In January, wildfires ripped through Southern California, destroying 16,251 structures and 37,400 acres, and displacing 150,000 residents.
A month has passed since the fires were fully contained, but for families and children, the struggle is far from over. Disasters like these leave lasting scars that linger long after the cameras are gone. That's why Save the Children stays committed to supporting children until they can get back to their normal lives.
Right now, that’s difficult for kids in Southern California. Thousands have lost their homes and belongings. More than 55 public schools, including Title I schools, have been affected by the disaster. Entire communities have been destroyed.
As part of our response, Save the Children partnered with Project Camp to provide a place where children who shared this experience can learn and play together. It’s a place where kids just get to be kids, giving parents a chance to deal with what comes next.
John, I had the opportunity to visit Project Camp last month. I was amazed by the kids I met. It brought me so much joy to see them laughing and having fun together. Children are so resilient. But I’ll also never forget hearing them talk about how they lost their homes or their schools or their pets, and how scared they felt.
John, our work wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of people like you. When the California wildfires broke out, our generous community showed up by giving to our Children’s Emergency Fund to help us respond in California and emergencies across the U.S.
We worked with partners across the greater Los Angeles area to:
Support families with essential items and cash assistance.
Ensure children are safe through emergency child care.
Provide child care centers with financial assistance.
Offer mental health and psychosocial support to children and families.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as we help communities affected by the fire recover and rebuild in the months ahead.
