California

Californians donate for fire victims in Los Angeles County

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As firefighters continue trying to contain all the fires burning in Southern California, there has been some moving stories of fellow Californians trying to help in both the firefight and recovery. Gia Vang reports. 

As firefighters continue trying to contain all the fires burning in Southern California, there has been some moving stories of fellow Californians trying to help in both the firefight and recovery.

When Henry the dog was found in a Southern California fire zone, he was trapped inside an abandoned kennel.

A group called "Starts with One Today" rescued Henry and more than a dozen other abandoned dogs, who are now in homes, safe and sound.

Meanwhile, supplies gathered in the East Bay are on the way to Los Angeles, a U-Haul was filled in Livermore, after Ginger Faith heard from a friend in the fire zone.

"She called me while she was watching her house burn,” she said. "And that's what it is, it's not about the things. It's the investment of our energy, our families, the love we have and all of that stuff, was just decimated."

Companies are also stepping up. Bay Area-based Netflix pledging $10 million and housing for its employees. Comcast, the parent company of NBC Bay Area, also making a $10 million pledge.

In San Francisco, Manny’s in the city’s Mission District started its week-long donation drive on Monday. Boxes were filled to the brim or overflowing.

Christina Flood Kane attended Manny’s donation drive. She brought bag full of necessities and some items for the children impacted.

"I have a close childhood friend that doesn't know what happened to his house," she said. “Oh, here we go, the 8-ball. Some joy. It is certain things are going to look up."

At Manny’s, there were socks and face masks and more items that were donated. The first van is coming Tuesday at 11 a.m. to take items down to Southern California and clear some of the space here for more donations.

Manny Yekutiel of Manny's grew up in Southern California. He said that from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., people can donate needed items listed on the community space’s social media pages.

“It’s overflowing and I’m feeling very overwhelmed in a positive way,” he said.

Volunteer drivers will make many trips to Los Angeles through Friday to deliver the goods to spaces and organizations Manny’s has connected with on the ground.

In Pleasanton, hundreds of thousands of meals will be headed to needy families in Southern California.

Local organization “Kids Against Hunger Bay Area” is packing meals for the next couple of days. Their partners will pick it all up and drive it to Los Angeles at the end of the week.

“With a natural disaster especially right in our own state, we want to try to get as much there as we possibly can as fast as we can,” said Sherri Leal, with Kids Against Hunger Bay Area. “We’re hoping to have at least 200,000 meals packed before they pick up.”

As firefighters continue trying to contain all the fires burning in Southern California, there has been some moving stories of fellow Californians trying to help in both the firefight and recovery. Scott Budman reports.
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