The Palisades Fire was a stark reminder of the power of nature and the resilience of our community. As the fires continued, our brave firefighters, first responders, and emergency personnel worked tirelessly to protect lives, homes, and cherished landscapes. We extend our deepest gratitude to these heroes for their dedication and sacrifice. Our hearts go out to the families impacted, those who faced loss and uncertainty.
In response, the Santa Monica Family YMCA exemplified community spirit by swiftly mobilizing resources to support those affected. One of the immediate initiatives was the organization of free Emergency Day Camps for over 80 children whose schools were closed/impacted. These camps provided a safe and engaging environment for children, offering families a semblance of normalcy during a tumultuous time. By ensuring that children had a place to learn and play, the YMCA alleviated some of the burdens faced by parents navigating the crisis.
Thanks to our partners, we were also able to coordinate, distribute, and transport over 3,400 meals to provide a warm plate to first responders, SMPD, SMFD, and families impacted by the fires. We’re thankful for the partnership and support from Cobi’s, Thistle, No Res Gourmet, Truxton’s American Bistro, Chick-fil-A, California Pizza Kitchen, The Butcher’s Daughter, Fiorelli Pizza, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, C&O Cucina, and others who made this possible.
Our Community Room was transformed into a safe haven, offering grab-and-go resources for those in need, including water, diapers, toiletries, non-perishable food items, and much more. These items would not be available had it not been for the community that came together to donate so much to our YMCA. We are eternally grateful.
As CEO Hodge Patterson aptly stated, “Together, we remain committed to providing stability, connection, and support during times of need.
We are better together.”
The YMCA continues to support the community by encouraging anybody who is still in need of resources to complete the “Needs & Volunteer Interest Form” located on our website, ymcasm.org.
To anybody looking to support our continued efforts to assist the community, we encourage you to make a donation to the Santa Monica Family YMCA’s Emergency Response Fund. We will distribute these funds to relieve the financial burdens for people impacted by the fires. Monetary donations will help cover the cost of memberships, preschool, and childcare programs for affected families.
For more details, contact the Santa Monica Family YMCA at 310-393-2721, or visit our web-site at ymcasm.org
By Araceli Alejandre, COO
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