Glendale Community College wasted no time in stepping up to support faculty, staff and students affected by the tragic January wildfires in the region. In response, and to provide immediate and long term support as numerous members of the GCC community have lost their homes and faced difficult obstacles, the college created the Wildfire Relief Fund.
“The [GCC] Foundation’s work is always focused on supporting the needs of our campus community,” Paola Santana, who leads the Foundation, noted. “It was natural for us to launch this fundraising effort to provide relief to those impacted by the fires.”
GCC mobilized resources to help employees who lost their homes due to the fires meet their immediate needs. The Human Resources (HR) team immediately contacted the employees impacted by the review to ensure access to key support services. Among the first forms of help was a $300 Target gift card offered to help with immediate needs, including food and clothing. The cards are good for online purchases as well as in store, allowing the recipient to purchase what they need right away.
In addition, GCC CARES and the Glendale College Foundation provided re-housing financial assistance of up to $2,000 for employees who were in the process of finding new housing. This money was intended to help cover a security deposit or first month’s rent, so employees could find stable housing and begin the process of rebuilding.
The efforts of the college stemmed from a desire to be there for their community members in their time of need, making sure that no one had to go through these struggles alone.
Paola Santana, an organizer of the relief efforts, shared how the Glendale College Foundation responded to the disaster. “Knowing that our students, faculty, and staff would need support, the Foundation established the Wildfire Relief Fund less than 48 hours after the fires first broke out,” Santana explained. The Foundation, which had previously raised funds for students and employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, knew that a similar approach would be necessary to support those affected by the wildfires.
Within just a few days, the Wildfire Relief Fund received vital support from nearly 150 individual donors to date, including GCC employees, alumni, and local community members. Corporate partners including DoorDash, Walmart and Macy’s also donated as did grants from philanthropic organizations such as the College Futures Foundation and the Michelson 20MM Foundation.
In the wake of the fires, GCC CARES partnered with the Foundation on some immediate efforts to support affected students, faculty and staff. Support included app codes and gift cards for food delivery, hotel vouchers, retail gift card, hygiene supplies, and cash disaster relief payments made to workers. This help was critical for people whose homes had been destroyed or had to leave for extended periods; it allowed them to address immediate needs and start to rebound. Their efforts ensured that over 100 students and employees received support to start getting back on their feet and into the ring of daily life. The fundraising initiative was made possible thanks to the outpourings of support from the GCC community and major contributors. Santana noted, “The Foundation’s work is always focused on supporting the needs of our campus community. It was natural for us to launch this fundraising effort to provide relief to those impacted by the fires.”
“The GCC community has been really generous in trying to give cash donations towards the community has been incredibly generous in contributing cash donations to the Wildfire Relief Fund,” Santana said. “In addition to monetary contributions, many employees also took part in a drive to collect hygiene supplies, which were distributed to employees shortly after the fires.”
GCC CARES determined who was eligible for assistance through careful coordination. Set up application forms for students and employees that lie within affected areas and contacted with those ones who had been impacted to make sure that everyone had an opportunity to apply for assistance.
The Glendale College Foundation said it is committed to providing long term support to local residents impacted by the wildfires as the need for recovery continues. Contributions to the Wildfire Relief Fund can be made online at http://bit.ly/GCCFireRelief . The Foundation continues its drive to generate funds, so that for the future, the GCC community will know that support is there.
The Glendale College Foundation’s work to serve its community and they are dedicated to being flexible for the needs of the future. Santana said there are no immediate plans for a new initiative, but noted the Foundation’s focus on supporting students is constant. “We know that recovery from such a disaster is a long-term process. We’ll continue to raise funds and provide aid tailored to the specific needs of our students, faculty, and staff during times of crisis.”
Those wishing to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts can still donate to the Wildfire Relief Fund. Financial support, community service or by spreading the word about available resources, everyone can play a part in supporting the GCC community as it rebuilds and recovers.
To donate to the Wildfire Relief Fund, visit http://bit.ly/GCCFireRelief or drop off donations at the Foundation Office (AD149).
Gissel Nolasco can be reached at [email protected].