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State volunteer leaders say thousands mobilized as Los Angeles fires continue; officials urge donations and safety
Summary
Josh Friday, Go Serve director and California chief service officer, said volunteers and community groups have established distribution sites in Los Angeles and called for donations, sign-ups and safety during an ongoing wildfire response.
Josh Friday, Go Serve director and California chief service officer, said volunteers and community organizations have rallied across Los Angeles to serve residents affected by ongoing wildfires and urged the public to donate, sign up for alerts and volunteer where it is safe to do so.
"You're seeing right now what we see all over the city, which is people stepping up in a massive way to support each other," Friday said, describing distribution sites led by the YMCA and Pasadena City College where "thousands" of volunteers were boxing donations for transport to other sites.
Why this matters: the fires are active and relief needs are expanding, officials said, and immediate volunteer labor, donated goods and financial contributions are supporting shelters, food banks and distribution centers across the region.
Friday described multiple on-the-ground efforts in Los Angeles, saying distribution sites "have popped up led by the YMCA here, the Pasadena City College, and other organizations where donations have come in in droves from the entire community." He encouraged people to prioritize safety and to sign up for emergency alerts at ready.ca.gov. He also pointed viewers to donation portals, including californiasforall.ca.gov and philanthropyca.org, and named the California Fire Foundation as one recipient of financial contributions.
On state-level civic capacity, Friday said Gov. Gavin Newsom "believes deeply in the power of service" and that the state has built "the largest service force in the country, larger than the Peace Corps," a claim he offered to explain the scale of volunteer deployment in the city.
The host noted the longer-term nature of recovery, saying it "is likely gonna take years to get people whole again," and Friday echoed that sustained help will be necessary as communities rebuild.
Friday listed organizations and roles where volunteers can help: food banks such as the LA Food Bank, YMCA distribution centers and local donation and distribution sites at institutions such as Pasadena City College. He also urged donations of money, clothing and other supplies and asked the public to "give thanks to the first responders" and offer support to volunteers serving on the ground.
The interview included specific web resources repeatedly cited by Friday for public action: ready.ca.gov for emergency alerts; californiasforall.ca.gov for donation links; and philanthropyca.org for philanthropic coordination. Friday described the situation as both heartbreaking and uplifting: "the devastation now is breaking our hearts, but the community is lifting our spirits."
