First on the Frontlines

The wildfires in Los Angeles moved fast. Luckily, the outpouring of relief moved just as quickly. 

In the weeks that followed, the Comic Relief US community stepped up, and thanks to the proceeds from our recent sold-out Stand-Up For LA show, we were able to quickly direct funding to local organizations already on the ground, helping to provide immediate support to kids and families, and enable low-income communities to begin the long process of recovery.

For three of these organizations, speed was everything. 

Covenant House California stepped up to shelter young people, ages 17 to 21, experiencing homelessness — a group vulnerable to the impacts of the wildfires, from loss of housing to smoke inhalation. While many members of Covenant House’s staff were evacuated, those who were able to get to the facility worked tirelessly around the clock to cover shifts, cook meals, and provide for the needs of the 104 residents, while making additional emergency beds available. They offered immediate crisis counseling to residents, while also getting out on the streets, distributing hygiene products, bottled water, sandwiches, and linens through community outreach.

Feeding America, along with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and its partners, moved quickly to get food, beverages, and personal care items to people affected by the fires, including low-income families. By establishing food distribution sites at shelters and community centers, setting up drive-thru and walk-up mobile food pantries at stadiums and parks, and providing ingredients for organizations cooking up emergency meals, their staff helped stabilize food access across the city. These partners have delivered 14.2 million pounds of food, water, and personal care items, valued at more than $23 million.

And finally, Didi Hirsch acted quickly, sending mental health crisis care teams to disaster recovery centers and delivering psychological first aid to more than 1,000 fire survivors. By providing four to six free trauma-informed therapy sessions for children and adults, setting up support groups for individuals impacted by the fires, doing outreach to firefighters serving on the frontlines, and providing support to disaster relief workers, the Didi Hirsch team has helped to foster healing, ensuring that no one has to carry the trauma of the disaster alone.

Comic Relief US is proud to support these incredible organizations—who responded in the moment—and will continue delivering support that will make a lasting impact.