As we welcome the Lunar New Year, our thoughts and prayers for health and wellness extend to the people of Los Angeles who have been impacted by the ongoing wildfires. In this time of crisis, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrant communities throughout the States, have come together, demonstrating resilience and compassion by mobilizing aid and relief efforts.
a) Faith-Based and Immigrant Relief Efforts
AAPI is the third-largest racial group in Los Angeles and the most religiously diverse in the U.S., are uniting across faiths to support wildfire victims. Many of those affected are immigrants, including families who have built their lives in the U.S. while maintaining strong cultural and religious ties to their homelands. From Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Taoists, Muslims and more are all raising money and volunteering in many ways to bring relief to their fellow Angelenos.
For example, the United Sikhs has been providing food and beverages to displaced victims at a Gurdwara in Covina, California. Similarly, volunteers at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills quickly organized donation drives, collecting water, first-aid kits, and sleeping bags for disaster relief organizations. Their ongoing #SOCALSTRONG Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund has received global donations, reflecting the widespread concern for the affected communities.
Other faith-based organizations, such as Tzu Chi USA, a Buddhist nonprofit, have also mobilized to provide disaster relief, hosting an interfaith prayer service and raising funds to support wildfire survivors. Donations to their #HelpLosAngelesHeal mission will be matched up to $2 million, ensuring critical aid reaches those in need.
b) Immigrant Workers: The Backbone of Recovery
A majority of essential workers in construction and disaster cleanup, critical to rebuilding communities destroyed by the LA fires, are immigrants. Many face additional barriers in receiving aids, such as: language/cultural barriers, despite being on the front lines of recovery.
Some are calling them “second responders.” Many immigrants are stepping in to remove debris, rebuild homes, and support affected families – all while facing the threat of job loss, displacement, or lack of access to disaster relief funds. These individuals play a crucial role in the rebuilding process but often go unrecognized in mainstream relief efforts. Community-based groups are working tirelessly to advocate for immigrant disaster relief funding, language-accessible resources, and legal protections for those affected. Their efforts ensure that immigrants can continue to serve as the second responders while NOT fall through the cracks during this crisis.
c) Your Support is Much Needed!
AAPI Equity Alliance has created this resource guide in English and Heritage Languages, containing alerts and information, shelter/housing, childcare, animal/pet, transportation, food, mental health, community, health and safety, workers rights, and insurance and post-disaster resources. Please share this Guide through online – https://aapiequityalliance.org/la-wildfires/
English
繁體中文 Chinese (Traditional)
简体中文 Chinese (Simplified)
हिन्दी Hindi
한국어 Korean
ภาษาไทย Thai
Tiếng Việt Vietnamese
Your support is also crucially needed in helping immigrant families and businesses rebuild. Here’s how local Minnesotans can contribute:
- Donate online: Tzu Chi USA Wildfire Relief – https://donate.tzuchi.us/cause/lawfire/
- Send a check: Payable to “Tzu Chi,” specifying “Disaster Relief” in the memo. Mail to Tzu Chi Minnesota Office, 1485 Arden View Dr., Arden Hills, MN 55112.
- Support Local Fundraisers: Contribute to grassroots fundraising campaigns like #SOCALSTRONG and LaunchGood’s mosque rebuilding initiative.
Let’s stand in solidarity with the immigrant communities and all those affected, ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to rebuild and recover.
