EMERYVILLE, Calif. (KRON) — The devastation of Southern California’s fires continues, and Bay Area locals and businesses linked up in Emeryville to donate goods to help those affected by the fires. Wildfire victims on their path to recover, after flames tore through homes and businesses in Los Angeles County.
Like so many organizations stepping in to help, two Bay Area social media influencers — Jessi Caparella and Natalie Marshall — created a clothing and toiletries donation site for those affected.
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“I’m like, ‘oh we’ll get some people to show up,’” Caparella said. “We’re at gridlock down to the highway, so the entire Bay Area has basically showed up.”
Cars lined the streets to populate Trader Vic’s Emeryville parking lot — where the donations were dropped off.
“LA is being inundated with donations, and everyone is being so helpful,” Marshall said.
A 26-foot moving truck will be delivering hundreds of items to families affected by the fires: baby clothes, toiletries, bags, and other goods to families.
Organizers estimate 65 Southern California families will be helped. Caparella and Marshall say they work with several volunteer groups who will organize the items and send them to relief centers in Los Angeles to distribute to families.
Two Bay Area social media influencers, Jessi Caparella and Natalie Marshall, created a clothing and toiletries donation site in Emeryville for the Los Angeles wildfire victims. (KRON4 Photo)
Many of the people donating on Sunday have family friends who live in the Los Angeles area — like Megan Maples, who donated baby supplies like unused nursing covers and baby clothing.
“As a new mom, I can’t imagine everything my family worked so hard for get taken away,” she said. “So I felt very just heartbroken so many families are experiencing such heartache right now.”
Virgine Depaepe is a local business owner who collected and brought more than hundreds of items within her two Sprinter vans.
“Just like the fires, it spread, the donations, that really makes my heart,” Depaepe said. “I’m definitely on adrenaline right now, my heart is just so open.”
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The rest of the donations that did not make it on the 26-foot truck, were sent to other local sites for people in need.
“Our hearts go to LA, of course, just know that you’re not alone,” Depaepe said. “I said just one bag at a time.”
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