Wildfire response update
Three weeks ago, we responded to the L.A. wildfire crisis by opening our office as a temporary shelter and donation hub, and collected funds for disaster relief.
Our disaster relief fundraiser brought in an unprecedented $13,480.
We are proud to announce our Board of Directors voted to give $10,000 of the funds to Black Skeptics Los Angeles for their Rapid Response Microgrants program.
Black Skeptics Los Angeles (BSLA) promotes and supports Black and BIPOC secular communities with an emphasis on educational programming, arts, leadership development, and career readiness resources for Black girls, LGBTQ+ youth, and women.
Their microgrants provide immediate assistance to Black Altadena-Pasadena families and historic communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the wildfires. This include those who have lost homes, businesses, and historic cultural spaces forged during the Great Migration period in the midst of redlining and racially restrictive covenants.
The remaining $3,480 from the fire fund has been designated by Atheists United as an emergency fund for members and their friends. Please contact evan@atheistsunited.org if you or someone you know has a need, fire related or otherwise.
Hundreds of pounds of food, water, clothes, and toiletries (below) were also received while we and Sunday Assembly Los Angeles (SALA) opened Center for Inquiry West as a temporary shelter. Donations unused for fire relief were distributed through our monthly food distribution.
The experience has strengthened our partnerships with BSLA and SALA, and made us more prepared to respond to unexpected disasters in the future.
A deep thank you to all those who showed support for our community and our city during this time of need.
