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Where can college students and employees get fire aid?
Jet Gross, 17, walks with a guitar that a friend asked to find in Pacific Palisades.
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Myung J. Chun
/
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
)
As first responders work to put out the Palisades and Eaton fires, colleges across Greater L.A. have set up relief funds to provide support for students, faculty, and staff.
The funds will provide food, water, temporary housing, clothing, medical supplies, academic supplies, and other essential items.
ArtCenter
The college of design is in Pasadena, close to the Eaton Fire burn area.
- Give help: The school started an emergency fund for students, staff, and faculty. Here's how to give.
- Get help: Staff and faculty have a separate form from students to ask for help, but they're both available here.
Caltech
Caltech has set up the Caltech JPL Disaster Relief Fund to support students, faculty, and staff at the university and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Many of them live in Altadena, and more than 250 have lost their homes.
- Give help: Donors can make one-time or recurring contributions at this website.
Cal State Northridge
CSUN has set up the MataCare Emergency Grant for students and the Matador Relief Fund for faculty and staff who’ve been impacted by the fires.
- Give help: Donors can choose which fund they’d like to support on the school’s website.
- Get help: If you’re a CSUN community member in need of help, fill out this form.
Glendale Community College
Glendale Community College has separate emergency funds for students and employees.
- Give help: Donors can designate which fund to donate to here. And GCC is also accepting new, unused clothing and hygiene/toiletry supplies from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its student center. (Here are directions).
- Get help: There are forms for both students and employees to ask for help.
Los Angeles Community College District
LACCD includes Mission College, Pierce College, and Valley College.
- Give help: LACCD has established the LA Strong: Disaster Response Fund.
- Get help: If you’re a community member who’s been impacted, scroll to the bottom of the same webpage to request assistance.
Otis College of Art and Design
Otis College of Art and Design has set up an emergency fund for students, faculty, and staff who have been affected by the fires.
- Give help: Here's the Otis Emergency Relief Fund.
- Get help: The school is also making labs and shops available to alumni artists who need access to tools and supplies to continue their work. You can DM the school on Instagram to learn more.
Pasadena City College
PCC, which is near the Eaton Fire, has established a Community Relief Fund to assist colleagues and classmates.
- Give help: You can make a donation here.
- Get help: If you are a PCC student, faculty, or staff member who needs help, fill out the PCC Fire Recovery Needs Assessment Form.
Santa Monica College
SMC, near the Palisades Fire, has set up the Santa Monica Community College Disaster Support Fund.
- Give help: On the school’s website, donors can make a contribution or sign up to help distribute relief.
UCLA
UCLA has compiled a resource directory for students that includes case management services for students with "academic concerns, financial crisis, health and well-being, relationship dynamics, or other stressors," and an economic crisis response team for students with acute financial issues. And the Communities Program Office (CPO) will distribute fresh produce next Thursday at the University Village Apartments.
FEMA will have a station at UCLA Research Park (the space formerly occupied by Westside Pavilion) to offer aid to evacuated residents who have lost their home, business, or vital records. The center will be fully operational starting Wednesday, Jan. 15, from 9 am to 8 p.m., seven days per week.
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For donations and volunteer opportunities, the university pointed LAist to Red Cross.
University of Southern California
While USC's two largest campuses are not located near the wildfire areas, many students, staff, and faculty do live in the affected areas.
- Give help: Here's the Trojan Family L.A. Wildfire Relief Fund.
- Get help: USC has a Wildfire and Air Quality hotline, 213-740-6291, to help answer questions. You can also email.
Spread the word
If your campus has set up a new relief fund or volunteer opportunities, let us know.
Senior editor Ross Brenneman contributed to this story.
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Fire resources and tips
-
If you have to evacuate:
- Why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
- How to get packed up
- How to leave your house
- What evacuation terms mean and how to sign up for alerts
Navigating fire conditions:
- How to drive in high winds and fire danger
- How to prep for power outages
- How to navigate poor air quality
How to help yourself and others:
- Resources for fire victims, evacuees and first responders
- If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
- How to help find lost pets
How to start the recovery process:
- What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
- How to make an insurance claim
- How to safely clean up wildfire ash
What to do for your kids:
- How to talk to children about wildfires and losing a home
- What parents should know about wildfire air quality
Prepare for the next disaster:
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