This was not the content I planned for today. First and foremost, I appreciate all your DMs and emails checking in on my family’s safety. Fortunately, our home is not in a fire zone and we are out of harm’s way. But we know many families who have lost everything - not just their homes and everything inside, but also their schools, houses of worship, neighborhoods, and friends’ homes. We have many friends whose houses were spared, but their neighborhoods are practically unlivable. The air quality is toxic and everything around them looks like a war zone. It’s incredibly devastating.
I would be remiss not to thank the first responders and all the brave people who truly put their lives on the line to work so valiantly under the most brutal conditions to save human life and as many homes as possible.
As I write this, fires are still raging and spreading, and people need help. The road to recovery will be long but I am confident people will rise to the occasion to support our neighbors in need. Many of you have asked how you can help, so I have compiled a list here of organizations I can vouch for. For those of you who live in the local community, I will continue to post resources every day in my IG stories.
1. Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby provides children living in poverty with diapers, clothing, and basic necessities. During the LA wildfires, they are distributing essential items to families in need, ensuring children have the supplies they require.
2. Good+ Foundation
Good+ Foundation partners with various community organizations to provide essential goods to families. They offer an Amazon list, making it easy for people to purchase and send supplies directly to those affected by the wildfires.
3. Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
This foundation supports the Los Angeles Fire Department by funding vital equipment, training, and resources. Donations help firefighters better respond to emergencies, including wildfires, ensuring public safety.
4. American Red Cross
The American Red Cross offers disaster relief, including shelter, food, and support to individuals and families affected by wildfires. They also provide resources for long-term recovery and preparedness education.
5. Habitat for Humanity Los Angeles - Disaster Relief
Habitat for Humanity LA focuses on rebuilding homes and providing disaster relief for families affected by wildfires. Their efforts help ensure that communities can recover and rebuild safe, affordable housing.
6. World Central Kitchen
Founded by chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen provides meals to communities affected by disasters. During the LA wildfires, they serve hot meals to displaced residents and emergency workers on the front lines.
7. Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles
Our Big Kitchen LA is a community-run kitchen that prepares and distributes meals to those in need. In times of crisis like wildfires, they mobilize to provide nourishment and comfort to affected individuals and families.
8. BSTRONG
BStrong provides emergency assistance and disaster relief through their partnership with Global Empowerment Mission. For wildfire relief efforts, they distribute cash cards, emergency supplies, and offer direct support to those affected, helping families rebuild and recover quickly.
9. Jared and Christen Goff Amazon Wishlist Effort
If you have lost your home, create an Amazon wishlist and DM (this is through Instagram) to @christengoff Jared Goff and his wife are mobilizing an massive effort to help contribute to people’s wish lists. Share this with loved ones.
Updated 1/13 I need to ask friends who are intimately involved in LA animal rescue which organizations really needed donations and here’s what I can share:
LA Animal Services provides vital support for pets and animals affected by the LA wildfires. They offer emergency shelters, pet evacuation assistance, and resources for pet owners, ensuring the safety and care of animals during the crisis. Their efforts help reunite lost pets with their families and provide temporary housing for animals in need.
The Cat Posse is a wonderful grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating stray and abandoned cats. During the LA wildfires, they focus on rescuing cats from affected areas, providing medical care, temporary shelter, and reuniting lost pets with their owners. They also assist in placing displaced cats into foster homes until they can be returned to their families or adopted.
On another, less important note, my website is undergoing a major, planned renovation. I am on a content freeze over there while it is getting ready for its debut, hopefully later this week. I have posted a free dinner planner on my site weekly for probably close to 7 or 8 years. I will post this week’s dinner planner here instead for those of you who find inspiration from it when planning your meals:
Meatless Monday: Roasted Vegetable Buddha Bowl with Lemon-Tahini Dressing served with quinoa
Tuesday: Parchment baked halibut with cilantro and ginger, simple roasted Japanese sweet potato, and steamed broccoli
Wednesday: One Pan Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet from Brocc Your Body
Thursday: Immune-Boosting Soup with chicken (or chickpeas) + Okonomiyaki-Inspired Veggie Pancake
Friday: Pasta with Creamy Butternut Squash Sauce (also can be found here on my Newsletter if you are subscribed), pan roasted sausages (I buy chicken or turkey) with peppers and onions (can be done in the oven on a sheet pan too!)
Saturday brunch: Tex-Mex Tofu Scramble served with quesadillas (I’m eating this as a breakfast burrito)
Sunday: Orange and rosemary glazed chicken + Farro and kale with roasted pears and turkey bacon (I am going to double the kale to make sure I have enough veg here)
Even More Musings is an extension of my weekly newsletter, Monday Musings. My newsletter is a sponsor-free zone and is fully supported by readers like you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to get Even More Musings! Each week, I share my tips and tricks along with a new recipe. For only $5/month or $50/year (less than $1 a newsletter), you'll also gain access to the entire archive, featuring favorites like My New Hyper-fixation High-Protein Fluffy Breakfast Bowl and the Hillstone Copycat Emerald Kale Salad. This week I am sharing a recipe for a something I made with things I already had in my freezer, fridge and pantry. I try to not grocery shop in January other than fresh produce as needed. This low-carb, hi-protein stir-fry turned out so good, I will be making it again and again. Bonus points that it took under 5 minutes to make!
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