We are aware of the challenges our co-op community is facing in the ongoing fires in Palisades and the surrounding area. While not all of our members in the area may be directly affected, we know many of you have friends, family, and community members who are. We want to check in and see how you’re all doing, and to let you know that we’re thinking of you during this difficult time.
Our staff and membership are ready and willing to offer support in any way we can. We are wishing the best for your organizations, businesses, and families as you organize a response to support those directly impacted. Our staff will be looking into who is doing advocacy on this front so that we can be supportive of those efforts.
Below are some resources we’ve gathered that may be helpful:
- Disaster Assistance Loans: If your business has been affected, we encourage you to consider applying for SBA disaster assistance loans. When you’re ready, please reach out to Mo Manklang at policy@usworker.coop with any questions related to disaster loans or other small business concerns.
- Housing and Mutual Aid: Airbnb and local hotels are opening spaces for people in need. Additionally, the Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network has created a library of helpful resources that may be of use.
- FEMA assistance is available for individuals affected by the wildfires in California. Here is guidance for applying.
Please feel free to keep us updated on any news, mutual aid efforts, fundraisers, or other ways that the USFWC can help uplift your community by emailing info@usworker.coop.
How you can help the cooperative community of Los Angeles
For those not impacted and looking to help, we encourage you to donate to the Cooperative Development Foundation’s Disaster Recovery Fund.
As things shift from crisis to recovery, our members in the affected areas will no doubt be sharing their needs. Please follow them on social media and online.
- Careshare Orange County
- CleanWash Mobile LLC
- Collective REMAKE
- Courage Homecare Cooperative
- L.A. Co-op Lab
- Radiate Consulting Los Angeles
- Cooperative Crenshaw
- Cooperación Santa Ana
- Solidarity Research Center
Photo courtesy of the Associated Press
