On Jan. 7, the Palisades fire ignited in the Pacific Palisades Hills in Los Angeles, Calif. As recovery efforts continue, officials are working to rebuild homes and assess the long-term impacts of the wildfire.
FUHSD launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Fundraiser on Jan. 29 as a districtwide effort to provide both financial and clothing help to the wildfire victims. All monetary donations made will be sent to the California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides aid to both fire victims and firefighters.
In January, CFF was able to distribute over 7,000 Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency gift cards, each valued at $250, serving over 30,000 people. CFF provides financial support to firefighters who have been injured in the line of duty or have lost their homes during wildfires. They are continuing to work alongside local fire agencies and community organizations throughout Los Angeles to serve victims.
Each FUHSD school will participate in this fundraiser as a competition to see which school can raise the most money and donate the most clothing. Students will also be encouraged to donate gently used clothing to be allocated to families in need through Los Angeles relief efforts.
Organizers of the event report that FUHSD students have donated over $2,000 to support relief efforts for families affected by the Los Angeles fire and over 800 articles of clothing across the entire district and middle college students, with donations now on the way. The donation efforts ended on Feb. 13, with Lynbrook earning first place for the amount of monetary donations, and Homestead High School earning firstplace for clothing donations.
By encouraging friendly competition between schools in the FUHSD district, the project aimed to boost student engagement and their work’s impact. Students not only provide to those in need but also learn to organize fundraisers, donation centers and opportunities to make change.
“Students should become involved in relief efforts because it fosters empathy, leadership and a sense of responsibility toward their communities,” senior Anvita Sharma said. “By becoming active participants, they can gain experience in communities that require leadership and teamwork while helping them contribute to a meaningful change.”
