Southern California Wildfire Relief

Today, through your support of Together Rising, you sent $30,000 to (two-legged and four-legged) victims of the devastating wildfires that have scorched nearly 160,000 acres across southern California. The destruction has forced 190,000 people to flee their homes – homes to which they may never return – many to temporary shelters. You responded through Together Rising by sending $15,000 to our friends at Direct Relief. Your funds will allow them to distribute thousands of N-95 respiratory masks and Emergency Medical Kits to temporary shelters for evacuees across Southern California. You also sent $15,000 to the Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation. Many disaster evacuation centers cannot accept pets. For this reason, it’s estimated that about 600,000 pets died during Hurricane Katrina when pets were denied evacuation and access to shelters. Your contribution to the Foundation is funding their rescue of animals in danger from the Southern California fires, and providing them temporary care until they can be reunited with their families. We are sending our love to those enduring this terrifying trauma. We are awed with gratitude by the heroisms of the thousands of first responders — the firefighters who are rushing into the terrifying inferno to save the lives of strangers. When the suffering of the world feels overwhelming, you may feel heartbroken – but you are not helpless. Because, through Together Rising, you are on the ground doing The Next Right Thing. Thank you for doing the next right thing with us today by sending our love and support to California.