In mid-January, among the most devastating wildfires in California historical past started creeping towards Justin Palmer’s Orange County backdoor. As a substitute of fleeing, he requested how he might assist.
Because the founding father of iHeartDogs, Palmer is not any stranger to catastrophe reduction efforts. His firm companions with the worldwide non-profit group Better Good Charities on every little thing from medical fundraisers to boots-on-the-ground support throughout hurricanes, tornadoes, catastrophic flooding, and extra.
The fires left a path of unprecedented destruction, burning over 97,000 acres and destroying or damaging greater than 18,000 buildings, together with numerous houses and companies. With complete financial damages surpassing $250 billion, it stands as one of many costliest disasters in U.S. historical past.
However probably the most devastating losses can’t be counted in acres or {dollars}. At the very least 29 folks misplaced their lives, and greater than 200,000 residents had been pressured to evacuate their houses. Animal statistics usually are not out there, however many pets had been reported misplaced or killed, and space shelters are nonetheless working far past capability to assist the survivors.
With total households—particularly the furry members—in danger, Palmer and his workforce reached out to Better Good to see how they may assist. Collectively, the groups deliberate an evacuation flight, delivering 50 at-risk canines and cats to security in Oregon. Not solely did the flight give long-term shelter residents a greater likelihood at adoption in one other state, however it additionally freed up valuable house at L.A. space shelters for misplaced and injured pets nonetheless in want of rescue.
“If you’ve lost your home or had to evacuate, you often can’t bring your pet,” Palmer stated. “Many ended up in shelters, not abandoned, but needing temporary care.”
Better Good was additionally trying to find an area to gather and distribute donations for impacted folks and pets. Palmer gladly volunteered iHeartDogs’ close by Amazon achievement warehouse.
“These fires are going to be something that affects the community for years, and this is something we are uniquely able to do because we are so close to the fire,” Palmer stated.
The iHeartDogs workforce labored with Better Good to compile an Amazon wishlist of important gadgets survivors and their pets would want within the coming weeks. As soon as the listing was shared with iHeartDogs’ 5 million+ followers, donations started to pour in. As of the writing of this text, iHeartDogs readers have gifted greater than 75,000 Amazon merchandise to these in want.
Loyal clients additionally donated to Better Good Charities’ fire-related fundraisers. As soon as once more, they got here by means of in a giant means, in the end donating greater than $140,000 to the reduction efforts.
On February 5, Palmer, his iHeartDogs co-founder Marshall Morris, and a number of other worker volunteers gathered to assist assemble “Good Packs” for distribution to wildfire victims.
Palmer and firm will proceed supporting displaced pets and strays affected by the catastrophe. An upcoming rescue flight is deliberate for St. Patrick’s Day, and the Amazon want listing continues to be energetic when you’d prefer to donate to both effort.
Since its inception, HomeLife Media has donated greater than 34 million meals, 260,000 toys, and 85,ooo blankets to shelter canines awaiting their ceaselessly houses. They’ve additionally funded $1.5 million to offer service canines to army veterans, $73,000 for home abuse survivors and their pets, and greater than 330,000 air miles to fly canines and cats in high-risk shelters to security.
