DISASTER RELIEF

LOS ANGELES WILDFIRE DISASTER RELIEF

Many have asked how Rotary is responding to the devastating fires in the LA area, and how we can help. Below is information sent by the RI Director for the LA area regarding Disaster Relief Funds that the 2 local districts have set up. We hope that RI will also set up a disaster relief fund for LA. At this time, we as a District are not collecting goods, but that may change in the future once we understand what the needs are.

Please help if you are able, and keep the LA area people in your thoughts and prayers. We will update as further information and relief opportunities become available. Thank for being People of Action!

My fellow Directors.

We are now up to 10,000 structures destroyed in the Los Angeles area, 36,000 acres burned, 150,000 ordered to evacuate, and another 166,000 warned they may need to flee. Districts 5280 and 5300  are being heavily impacted. Both Districts are deeply engaged in organizing disaster relief efforts. Firefighters have come in from all over the US and Canada. Civil authorities are responding the best they can, but the situtation at this point is out of control. And more high winds are forecast for tonight.

Our Rotarians are responding the best of their ability, but many have been personally affected.

As you know, the Los Angeles area has been devastated by large fires that are burning out of control in several areas. Many thousands of homes have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated. Our Rotary colleagues in the affected Districts – Districts 5280 and 5300 – have activated District Disaster Relief Funds to assist the victims of the fires. District 5280 (Los Angeles) has also created a Resource Directory and online spreadsheet for In-Kind Donations.

To access information and links to District 5280’s Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund and other resources, please click here:

https://rotary5280.org/page/2025-wildfire-disaster-relief/

To access information and a link to District 5300’s Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund, please click here:

https://www.district5300.org/ca-wild-fires/

HURRICANES HELENE & MILTON

MONETARY DONATIONS can be made to Rotary Zones 33 & 34, which covers Rotary Districts in all of the affected areas.  DONATE HERE   See below how to make this donation part of the ShelterBox match.

ShelterBox USA is supporting Rotary International Zones 33 and 34 (Southeast USA) to help meet the immediate needs of communities devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. ShelterBox USA committed an initial match grant of $100,000 to the Rotary Zone 33 and 34 Disaster Recovery Fund to help communities affected from the Carolinas to Florida confronting the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. To take advantage of this match you can donate at Zone 33-34 Foundation  and put “ShelterBox Match” in the Transaction Description.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELP COLLECT, SORT AND PALLETIZE THE DONATIONS FOR HURRICANE HELENE VICTIMS.  GOODS ARE BEING DELIVERED ON OCTOBER 26TH.