It’s that time of year again.
Christmas. New Year’s. And for some, a new beginning.
With Christmas lights lining most neighborhoods, last-minute shopping underway, and airport pick-ups en route, it’s a festive time for many. But earlier this year, a predominantly Black community on the West Coast was devastated by fire. Hundreds of residents in Los Angeles-area communities lost their homes and everything inside them.
Jan. 7 marks the first anniversary of the Eaton Fire. As Black folks continue to rebuild their homes and communities, we wanted to know how we can best support them through this holiday season.
Here’s a short list of organizations, foundations, and community-led groups that you can support to help Black residents in Altadena and Pasadena.
Legacy Land Project
This initiative formed in response to the community’s urgent need for equitable recovery. It’s designed to prevent displacement and strengthen local ownership by rebuilding homes, protecting generational land, and fostering sustainable development.
Through strategic partnerships — including community leaders, policy advocates, and philanthropic investors — the Legacy Land Project supports projects such as resource sourcing, land banking, legal assistance, and economic development programs that ensure historically rooted families and businesses can reclaim, restore, and sustain their presence in the region.
The LLP is a movement to safeguard residents from disinformation, exploitation, predatory lenders, and contractors while creating a model for community-led resilience that can be replicated nationwide. You can support their initiative by contacting acade@holddena.org or through the donation page.
Project Passion
Project Passion works to build collaboration and empower communities by creating spaces where individuals can unite, share resources, and work collectively toward meaningful change.
The nonprofit has an ongoing Dena Relief Drive, where affected residents can pick up toiletries and home essentials. Free moving services are also available for families displaced by the fire, and the organization connects folks to long-term temporary housing.
To date, the organization has provided more than 15,000 hot meals, given more than $200,000 in gift cards, and supported 150+ families with short-term housing. You can support their initiative by contacting Staff@projectpassioninc.com or through the donation page.
Eaton Fire Collaborative
In response to the devastation impacting Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, the Eaton Fire Collaborative was formed — made up of dozens of local organizations supporting and giving back to the community. This unified effort brings together community groups, local nonprofits, city, county, and state officials to help those affected. The group meets weekly to help the community.
The collaborative is made up of art collectives, Boys & Girls Clubs, churches, relief funds, education foundations, children’s museums, libraries, and youth programs. You can support the collaborative by contacting facilities@efclc.org or through the donation page.
Altadena Library Foundation
The Altadena Library and its branch both survived the Eaton fire — and continue to serve as anchors of hope, learning, and connection in the community. Folks can donate directly to the Altadena Library Foundation to support the Altadena Library District, the vital programs it provides, and groups partnering with the District.
The local libraries offer a host of rotating events that offer legal support, tax assistance, holiday decorating for kids, and other services. You can support their initiative by contacting manager@altadenalibraryfoundation.org or through the donation page.