My newly adopted home is hurting. 

 

I moved to Los Angeles from NYC 4 years ago. It is my home now and I fall more in love all the time. I can hike the mountains in the morning, spend the afternoon on the beach, and eat at an amazing restaurant all in the same day. That is just a taste of what LA has to offer.

I started visiting LA for business in the early 90s. My son went to college here. Over the years I have watched Los Angeles evolve. It has always had a rich food culture and its own style. It now has an impressive art scheme and some of the best shopping anywhere in the world. 

Finding Compassion and Purpose Amid Tragedy

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all of the wonderful people who have reached out to see if my family and I are ok. We are. I have struggled to find a way to feel useful.

 

Thanks to @danharris I learned some Buddhist advice that resonated:

 

“Compassion is empathy PLUS the desire to help if there’s nothing you can actually do to help. Simply adding the desire to help can be empowering and enabling and can therefore prevent overwhelm.”

I am helping those who lost everything rebuild their wardrobes. It is a small contribution, but one I can make.

How You Can Help: Trusted Agencies and Donations

If you feel overwhelmed but want to know how to help, incredible organizations actively support those affected by the recent tragedies in Los Angeles. Here are some trusted agencies where your contributions can make a real difference:

 

• American Red Cross – California Wildfires Response: Providing emergency relief, shelter, and supplies to those impacted by wildfires.
• California Fire Foundation: Supporting firefighters and communities affected by wildfires through direct aid and resources.
• Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: Helping ensure that families in need have access to nutritious food during difficult times.
• World Central Kitchen (WCK): Providing fresh meals to displaced families and first responders.
• CORE Response: Offering critical support to families affected by disasters.
• GoFundMe – Dawg Pound Families: A campaign directly supporting athletes’ families affected by fires.

 

Every donation, no matter how small, adds up to make a meaningful impact. Together, we can help rebuild lives and communities in Los Angeles.

 

I have been amazed at how a city as massive and spread out as Los Angeles can come together and feel like a village. LA banded together and began helping those in need within hours.

 

Because of this, I KNOW that Los Angeles will rebuild stronger and better than before. This is the city that I love.

 

Love, Kriena Nederveen x