Drive-by donations, money requested at Fire Relief Resource Drive
The Santa Monica College (SMC) Foundation’s Fire Relief Resource Drive is asking for essential items, volunteers, and above all, money. The event, spanning 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 13-14 and located on SMC’s Bundy campus, is described by volunteer Sue O’Brien as a “headquarters” for the devastated college community.
Some cherubs simply showed up and shoved fistfuls of cash at volunteers. Even these extremely direct deposits are welcome, the organizers said.
Another fiscal highway is the Santa Monica Community College Disaster Support Fund. Every scrap of these donations will go towards emergency grants for students and staff impacted by fires - no fees. According to Dr. Lizzie Moore, Foundation President and Dean of Institutional Advancement, the money will be split down the middle, half allotted for students and half for staff.
At the time of publication, the fund has raised $76,374 out of the projected $250,000. This is roughly 30% completion, and organizers are aiming beyond the stated limitation. Moore said, “the more money we raise, the more cash we get into students’ and staff’s hands that have lost their homes.”
Physical items are also acceptable, by drive-by donation only. Basic Needs Director Sharlyne Massillon shared that the drive is in greatest need of blankets, hygiene products, and baby supplies.
The drive is also accepting new or gently used clothing, food, gift cards, phone chargers, and backpacks, with a few specifications.
“We’re trying to be intentional and curated in the items that we’re receiving,” said Massillon.
Some misplaced generosity led to unacceptable donations. On Monday, these offenders included dog food, toys, towels, car seats, strollers, and shoes. “Even if they’re new, we’re unfortunately not able to collect and distribute those at the moment,” said Massillon. “We really just want to focus on the essential items.”
About 20% of the volunteers are SMC employees, but the opportunity isn’t limited to collegiates. There’s a sign-up form on the the Disaster Relief webpage, and walk-ins won’t be denied either. Potential volunteer tasks include receiving donations, transporting them to sorting locations in giant bins, sorting through the stuff, or running security and logistics. The site will soon provide information for volunteers interested in distribution.
Moore dreamed up the idea for the drive last Wednesday, and rattled the gears on the “well-oiled machine” of the Basic Needs Department. Within hours the project was rolling. Overnight, volunteer signups doubled, then tripled. But the soaring participation doesn’t mean that the need for contribution has diminished.
The rapidly accumulating stacks of clothes on the lawn were gratifying for the plethora of eager volunteers, but Moore is experienced with the SMC Bodega, at which clothing racks are cleared in a flash.
She summarized the immediate sensation of the fabric piles as “this feels like so much clothing, how can we possibly get rid of this?”
However, the products will be distributed across Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Brentwood, and Greater Los Angeles County. “So, it’s gonna go,” she said.
Volunteers Naomi Henderson and Corey Jentry, both spared by the fires’ destruction, were impelled to volunteer with the college’s relief efforts anyway.
“I just felt like it was really tragic what happened and if the shoe was on the other foot that I would want someone to, like, step up and volunteer here,” said Henderson.
A volunteer camaraderie was fostered quickly, and Jentry said “everyone’s obviously in a really positive, hopeful mood.”
“The organizers of SMC Cares, they are doing a really good job of like community and feeding us and just treating the volunteers good,” Henderson said.
O’Brien, armed with 40 years of experience volunteering with the college, attested the turnout and participation was unlike any precedent, due to “the scale of the trauma.”
“It’s really inspiring,” she said. The donations that trickled in as early as 7:30 a.m. on Monday were followed by “chaos”: truckloads of ample contributions. And the affable commodities were themselves a welcome change for O’Brien.
“There’s no trash. So often it’s people emptying their trash, but they’ve brought the good stuff,” she said.