CLC Fire Relief Efforts
Foster Youth Impacted by Wildfires Need Your Support – Like so many of our friends and neighbors, CLC has been deeply impacted by the fires in Los Angeles. In the days and weeks following the onset of the first fire, we mobilized quickly to understand the impact on each of our young clients and do everything we can to help. Dozens of our clients have lost their homes, with nearly 200 others displaced. Sadly, six CLC staff members lost their homes to the fires as well.
In Altadena alone, 18 foster homes burned down, leaving 29 children displaced and without their personal possessions. Only a fraction of the 164 children who were evacuated in that area have been able to return. Hundreds if not thousands of children have been affected by sudden and traumatic evacuations; lack of access to school and visits with family; and the effects of unsafe drinking water and even air.
Recovery will take years – and for children and youth in foster care, the repercussions of this disaster adds another layer to their trauma.
The stories we are hearing are heartbreaking—one group home that was evacuated displaced 15 young boys who have been sleeping on air mattresses in an office building. One youth whose mental health medication was left behind when he quickly evacuated struggled to cope and was unable to reach his therapist for support as she, too, was displaced by the fires. Caregivers have faced days and weeks without power; one foster mother reached out to us with a plea to help her obtain diapers for the baby in her care.
CLC is doing everything possible to support our clients and their families, including gathering and distributing clothing, groceries, air filters, school supplies, and more. We anticipate the need only growing with so many Angelenos without stable housing options and needing to rebuild their lives.
We need our supporters now more than ever. Please join us in lifting up children and families in need by giving directly to our Fire Recovery Fund, purchasing tangible items from our Amazon Client Wish List, or sharing this request with your own communities. From shoes to backpacks to eyeglasses to laptops, no need feels too great or too small when you’ve lost everything.
Thank You to Our Uplift with a Gift Supporters
Thank you to CLC’s incredible supporters who made our 2024 Uplift with a Gift program a resounding success. Your generosity and dedication brought joy to thousands of our young clients this holiday season. Our community’s unwavering support and compassion continue to inspire us, and we are deeply grateful for your commitment to making a difference. We could not do this work without you, thank you for standing with us in times of celebration and crisis alike!
Donor Spotlight: Ava and Brooke Dabney
Our donor spotlight this month is an amazing story hailing from Roseville, located in Placer County, California. Ava and Brooke Dabney are a twin sisters attending Warren T. Eich Middle School. For their 8th grade community project, this dynamic duo decided to raise money for children impacted by the foster care system. Specifically, the sisters wanted to raise funds to provide gifts to children and youth in need of holiday cheer! The sisters set out to raise enough money to purchase gifts for approximately 20 children, their goal was $2,000.
Ava and Brooke hosted garage sales and sold items online for a total of $880. Undeterred and determined to reach their goal, the sisters put out a donation bin and made posters to encourage folks to donate at their garage sales. They received donations from family members and even went door to door with flyers to help meet their goal! Not only did Ava and Brooke meet their goal, they surpassed it with a total of $2,170!
We are so grateful for young people like Ava and Brooke who led by example and worked hard to ensure children in foster care had an amazing holiday!
CLC is Seeking Mentors for Financial Literacy!
Seeking Mentors for Financial Literacy Program – CLC is thrilled to announce the launch of our second cohort of financial education for youth in foster care. Teaming up with financial services professionals, wealth advisors, and volunteers, we are dedicated to supporting transition age youth (18-20) as they embark on their journey into adulthood.
Will you consider joining us and helping a foster youth prepare for their financial future? This program not only offers the opportunity to donate your time and treasure but, more importantly, to become a trusted adult in the life of a young adult preparing to exit foster care. You do not need to be in finance to join as a mentor – all we ask is your dedication to helping youth impacted by the foster care system succeed! To learn how you can become a mentor contact Kimberly Watson at watsonk@clccal.org.
