Local and national Indian American organizations lead LA wildfire relief efforts

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BAPS Charities has set up volunteer and relief center in a parking lot in Los Angeles. PHOTO: Courtesy BAPS Los Angeles.

The days following the wildfire that erupted on January 7, 2025 in Los Angeles have brought to front stories of remarkable efforts to find ways to help by the by-standers who did not want to be mere by-standers.

What has emerged from this natural disaster is the human spirit of brotherhood. While bigger efforts are being carried out by bigger organizations, what has been drawing attention are the efforts of individuals and smaller organizations.

Local and national Indian American organizations have stepped in within 24-hours of the fire breakout to do whatever they can, providing volunteer services and supplies.

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In New York City’s Queens, the Hindu Temple Society of North America, or the Ganesh Temple, began a national fundraising drive on their website and on-site with a general appeal to its patrons for donations.

A U.S flag flies as fire engulfs a structure while the Palisades Fire burns during a windstorm on the west side of Los Angeles, California, U.S. January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu

Similar appeals were also made by the New York Swaminarayan Mandir. Part of the international organization, BAPS, the Flushing Mandir’s charitable work is in conjunction with the national BAPS organization.

With firm beliefs in community service and sharing, faith based organizations seem to have taken the lead in relief efforts.

NBC reports have described the religiously diverse Indian Americans as part of the third-largest racial group of Asians in Los Angeles, all of whom have united with one purpose to bring relief to the wildfire victims.

The Washington Post (WP) has listed few of the faith based organizations in the area who were the first ones to reach with a helping hand. A Sikh temple and a Baptist Church came up with basics for those who had lost their homes to fires or were displaced, distributing essentials including soap, toothpaste, razors and more, according to WP.

Quick to respond, BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Los Angeles sent essentials to various resource hubs, evacuation centers and first responders, along with volunteers. BAPS Charities, which is part of the national BAPS USA organization, has been sending in donations including baby essentials, bath and hygiene products, first aid kits, feminine hygiene products, packaged snacks and water bottles. A donation and volunteers drive was also held recently at its Mandir in Chino Hills.

BAPS also sent volunteers who took care of the needs of the victims on site. Service is of utmost importance in their faith according to their spokesperson. Following their religious leader Pramukh Swami’s teachings, volunteers performed selfless service in all the affected areas.

The Sikh Gurudwaras in Bakersfield began collecting supplies immediately after the wildfire, according to NBC reports. Serving others and feeding the hungry is an important practice of the faith, and Sikh temples have a history of stepping in with help during emergencies.

There are five main Gurudwaras in Bakersfield, and four smaller ones. Unifying their efforts, Vice Mayor of Baikersfield, Manpreet Kaur, began organizing a supplies and funds drive in partnership with Khalsa Aid organization. The donation drive collected essentials including feminine hygiene products, underwears, socks, blankets and money, to be taken first to the Hollywood Sikh Temple which would then distribute it at site.

Another Sikh organization, the United Sikhs organization, launched an emergency relief campaign, reported NBC. They have been serving food and beverages at the Gurudwara in Covina including Chai and Samosas and has been serving more than 1,000 hot meals a day along with beverages and snacks.

Several other faith based organizations across the US have been raising funds in place of other kind of aid due to the distance and time required for it to reach the affected areas.

Local residents and individuals have been donating clothes, diapers, baby formula, toilet paper and other necessities. Individual volunteers have been sorting them into men, women, children, tops, pants and shoes. Individuals have also been offering haircuts and massages and helping victims find a place to stay.

A supplies donation drive appeal was organized in the Bakersfield Gurudwara at various sites.
PHOTO: Courtesy Bakersfield Gurudwara.org

Local businesses have been offering all kinds of services to the wild fire victims. In a unique move, expensive boutiques and galleries in downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood including Quirk and The Hole have restocked wardrobes for the fire victims.

Volunteers have included wedding photographers, hair and makeup artists, and community groups. Volunteers have been of all ages, young and old, children and elderly, and students of the Western Barber Institute in the San Fernando Valley who have been ‘donating’ haircuts in the hope of lifting up the victims’ spirits by making them look good, reported WP.

Teenagers did not stay back in this massive effort. WP reported when a 14-year-old girl’s school burned down, she founded Altadena Girls to provide fellow teens with hair products, pimple patches, sunglasses and jewelry.

Similarly, Altadena Teen Boys Fire Recovery was founded to provide boys with sweatshirts and sports gear.

Social Media and IT have also been part of the collective effort. An Instagram group was started in Altadena which distributed food and supplies at an Arco gas station.

When a video was posted by Allen Gharakhani on Tik Tok of a street vendor giving hotdogs to wildfire victims in a parking lot, other vendors followed, and soon a massive food and clothes distribution center was opened at the Santa Anita Park racetrack.

A Discord server was created by one volunteer to support 500 survivors. It provides transcriptions of news conferences, wildfire updates, tips on how to apply for relief assistance, and instructions for uploading and sharing salvaged photos, reported WP. The server has attracted a lot of volunteer support, providing public information and helping find housing for victims.

People found some way of being part of the relief work. Volunteers walked in asking how they could help. Or they called up American Red Cross. Volunteers also responded to relief efforts headed by celebrities including Prince Harry, Jennifer Garner and Taylor Swift.

National and International non-profits have been in the area with their volunteers. American Red Cross has reportedly received more than 8,000 calls from individuals offering voluntary services.

United Way of Greater Los Angeles has brought the community together to deal with the disaster, according to reports.

A disaster which has brought so much destruction has also brought out the best in people. Everyone involved in fighting with the aftermath of the fires is hopeful that the spirit of community survives the disaster.