Los Angeles Wildfire Youth Support Drive

The Soultenders Child and Family Center, in collaboration with the Youth Empowerment Network, is hosting a donation drive to support youth impacted by the Eaton Canyon Fire, which devastated the community and destroyed 5,000 homes and schools. Donations will be accepted at the South Pasadena Soultenders throughout February and distributed to impacted youth and schools in the community.

• Youth Support Drive: We aim to provide drawstring backpacks filled with toys, books, and art supplies to children who have lost their homes and displaced foster youth. Bulk supplies will also be distributed to local elementary and preschools destroyed in the fires. See below for details on ways to contribute.
• Fires and Feelings Workbook and Blog Post: Leslie Santana and Lauren Stockly, local therapists, have created a free workbook to help children process their complicated emotions surrounding the fires (scroll down for details). You can read Lauren’s blog post on supporting children through disasters here.
• Support for Impacted Therapists (March/April): Child therapists who lost their offices in the Eaton Canyon or Palisades fires can request support in rebuilding play therapy supplies. EMDR therapists are eligible for a free pair of wireless B-Pulse tappers from Bumble BLS and a EMDR children’s book and workbook. Apply here
• Community Mental Health Support: Soultenders has 5 locations in the area, with therapists ready to support people impacted by the fires. Soultenders accepts most insurances, Medi-Cal plans, and has limited pro-bono options. A child and caregivers’ process group will start on Saturday, 2/15/2025, at South Pasadena Soultenders for families affected by the fires (scroll down for group details).

Ways To Contribute

• Contribute via the Play, Heal Grow Disaster Relief GoFundMe managed by the Youth Empowerment Network.
• Send items via our Amazon Wishlist
• Mail donations to Lauren Stockly (Soultenders) 1605 Hope St, suite 350, South Pasadena, CA 91030
• Contact Lauren Stockly at lauren.ic@soultenders.com to coordinate donation drop-off.
• Reach out to businesses and secure bulk donations.

Donations Being Accepted Throughout February

• New and like-new toys for ages 1-12
• New and gently used children’s books
• Gift cards
• Arts and crafts supplies
• Small games and puzzels
• Headphones and music items
• Items for teens
• Backpacks and pencil cases
• High quality personal care items for teens (make-up, bags, lotions, hair products, nail polish, face masks, etc.)
• Infant and toddler items (diapers, wipes, new clothes, toys, etc.)
• New and used Play Therapy Supplies
• Comfort items, blankets and new stuffed animals
• Bulk school supplies (ex. notebooks, pens, etc.)
• Classroom, office and teaching supplies
• Activity/classroom rugs and bean bag chairs
• Cleaning supplies (ex. disinfect wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.)

Leslie Santana and Lauren Stockly are local therapists who have created a workbook to help children process their complicated emotions surrounding the fires. It can be downed for free in English and Spanish here and is listed on Amazon at-cost. Lauren Stockly’s book, Be Mindful of Monsters: Fire Support Edition is also available as a free download. Click here to download.

Soultenders Services

Group Therapy for Children and Caregivers: Soultenders is hosting a free process group for families impacted by theories. Children and parents will participate in their own simultaneous groups. The first group is on Saturday, February 15, 10-11:30am. Contact afortner.ip@soultenders.com to enroll.

Individual, Couples and Family Therapy: Soultenders is committed to making quality mental health services accessible to all. Soultenders accepts most insurances and Medi-Cal plans. See the complete list here. Limited pro-bono services may be provided to peopl impacted by the fires. Visit Soultenders.com for details on how to enroll in therapy or call 626-701-4249.