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LA Fires Have you Feeling Helpless? Support Affected LA Culinary Creators (without Reaching for Your Wallet)

Residents of the County of Los Angeles are under one of the most dire circumstances we’ve ever experienced. If you’re watching and feeling helpless, there are some simple things you can to to support LA culinary creators who have lost their homes, and who are being affected by the wildfires.

I took this video/pic from my back door on January 8th, 2024. (Not edited.)

Many people from around the world are watching Los Angeles in horror, and in turn, feel extremely helpless.

Photo courtesy of Dana Bennett O’Leary taken in Porter Ranch, CA

As someone who is currently, and literally, in the middle of the fires which are burning, I’d like to offer a way that YOU can help without reaching into your wallet for a credit card.

Watch Duty screen shot support LA culinary creators
The blue dot is my home. (Map courtesy of Watch Duty app.)

While all of us in Los Angeles are affected in one way or another, some have lost everything and I’d like to offer a few ways that you can help. First, I will list what you can do, then I will share those who have lost their homes, and those of us who live and work here in Los Angeles (and are at still at risk of losing our homes.)

Summertime Garden Party
A summertime garden party meal created by five LA food bloggers.

How to Support LA Culinary Creators
and Their Families Affected by the LA Fires

1. Visit and Share their Websites

Cooking on Weekends with Valentina

We make our living by having ads monetizing our sites. It pays for the hosting, tech help, site back up, ingredients, materials, photography equipment, and helps us pay our bills. Let’s face it, no one likes ads, but no one can work for free. You don’t even have to click on the ads–simply visiting the website and looking at recipes and our content pays the bills, too. Sharing recipes and posts with friends and family is great, too!

pasta with egg and bacon

Incidentally, this is Valentina in her parents’ old kitchen which also burned down this week. She lost her childhood home, and her own home simultaneously. 😭

Cooking on Weekends with Valentina

The following culinary creators have lost their homes. Just by visiting their sites, you can help them and their families:

Valentina's house
Courtesy of Valentina Kenney Wein

Valentina from Cooking on the Weekends.

Courtesy of Dorothy Reinhold.

Dorothy from Shockingly Delicious

Courtesy of Cyndy Frederick Ufkes 

Cyndy from The Art of Food and Wine

Kirby from Leisure Fan Club

Those of us who are Still at Risk in the LA area:

Cynthia from What a Girl Eats She Paused 4 Thought Christina’s Cucina Dana from Dana’s Table

sunset pray for LA

2. Pin from Their Pinterest Boards

Cooking on the Weekends Shockingly Delicious The Art of Food and WIne Leisure Fan Club

Roasted elephant garlic recipe and photo courtesy of Leisure Fan Club.

She Paused 4 Thought What a Girl Eats Dana’s Table Christina’s Cucina

The more our pins are re-pinned, the more others see them and pin them, which helps with traffic to our sites.

3. Follow on Social Media Channels

The same applies to our social media channels like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channels. You will find our links on our sites’ home pages. Following and sharing on social media is a great help as it helps tell the algorithm to further share the posts.

ham and potato casserole ingredients

When you are on any of our websites and simply click on any of the Amazon links, even if you order something else, the pennies add up to help. There’s no need to order something you don’t need, but when you do, it’s helpful to use our affiliate links. You also don’t pay more, in case you’re wondering.

Black Nose Valais sheep

Cynthia and I have travel posts in case you’re planning a trip for the summer.

And although she doesn’t have a recipe site, I’d like to add Susan Salzman here because she lost her home, too.

Thank you in advance to anyone who visits these sites, shares with friends or uses our affiliate links. Those who have lost their homes have an almost insurmountable task ahead of them in dealing with insurance companies, government red tape and other related issues. Your efforts to support affected LA culinary creators is truly appreciated, and you’ll discover lots of new and delicious recipes, too!

Mud pie with espresso chocolate sauce by Cooking on the Weekends
Individual Coffee Chocolate Mud Pies – Cooking on the Weekends

The rest of us are all dealing with normal, everyday living on top of the threat of having to evacuate, breathing toxic air, and hearing the horrific news almost 24/7 and watching the fires burn closer. It’s surreal.

copyright Antonio Conte
Courtesy of my brother, Antonio Conte (Malibu)

Appreciate every day, because you never know what tomorrow will bring. No matter where you live, everyone is at risk of some form of natural disaster.

And I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins, who has also lost his home…

Legitimate Places to Donate

World Central Kitchen
Support LA Fire Department
California Fire Foundation
LA Regional Food Bank
Pasadena Humane Society

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