Fil-Am group teams up with LA Food Bank to aid wildfire victims
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Screengrab from NBC Palm Springs/Facebook
Evacuation orders have been lifted in the LA region, but many wildfire victims are still in need of help.
Stepping up to support relief efforts, the Filipino American Association of Coachella Valley hosted a donation drive on Jan.25.
The nonprofit organization has teamed up with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in providing essential supplies to the wildfire victims through a campaign launched at the Valley Christian Assembly in Palm Desert, Calif.
For years, the Fil-Am group has been a pillar of support for local communities. Spearheading several community projects, they held a pageant last year, which provided a $10,000 scholarship grant to senior high school students.
With the recent crisis in LA, the group has expanded their outreach beyond Coachella Valley, focusing on wildfire relief initiatives to aid families displaced by the fires.
“We are always looking for ways to support our community, and this donation drive is a vital way we can help wildfire victims,” Filipino American Association of Coachella Valley President Liza Ryan Gatmaitan-Reyes told NBC News.
The wildfire relief effort drew community involvement, with local residents donating essential goods that were directly distributed to the victims. One anonymous donor donated a van, according to NBC Palm Springs.
The LA Regional Food Bank played a significant role in ensuring the donations reached the hardest-hit areas. Coachella Valley’s healthcare sector also supported the relief efforts.
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Local media personality Manny the Movie Guy, who helped publicize the event, expressed gratitude on social media, writing, “On behalf of the Filipino American Association of Coachella Valley, thank you to everyone who came and donated to help LA fire victims.”
For those who missed the event but still want to help, contributions can still be made through the LA Food Bank website.