Center for Disaster Philanthropy grants $20,000 to the 805UndocuFund

I’ve always been a true believer in the audacious power of community philanthropy, but I had never personally witnessed this power so intimately and with as much intensity than in the aftermath of the devastating Thomas Fire and mudslides.

Driving to work that first morning after the start of the Thomas Fire, my community looked like a warzone. My lungs hurt from the smoke and my asthma was definitely acting up. As I used my windshield wipers to wipe away the ash falling from the sky, I looked to my right and saw our community’s most vulnerable residents working hard in the fields, many without appropriate masks and gear. It was heartbreaking and reminded me again of the immense privilege so many of us take for granted each day.

Our undocumented neighbors are not entitled to the same benefits as the rest of us after disaster strikes. They also have the most fragile social safety net surrounding them. Yet, they too are burdened by home loss, damaged apartments, school closures, loss of work, and poor health conditions. Our undocumented neighbors are the backbone of our regional economy, but are not provided government assistance in times of crisis.

This is why I’m so grateful to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and so many others throughout our nation for their generous contributions to the 805 UndocuFund. Together, as of September 2018, we have served 700 undocumented families, awarding over $1 million in assistance. We have been working to get aid to 800 additional families this fall. Thank you!