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The Los Angeles wildfires, in the course of a week, killed at least 25 people, burned more than 30,000 acres, and displaced thousands of people and wildlife from their homes. It’s a difficult time for Los Angeles residents — and yet, even in the face of crisis, people are mobilizing to support those in need, especially in neighborhoods that have faced the brunt of destruction like the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Altadena.

Across social media platforms, many people are sharing lists of organizations to donate to, links to GoFundMe campaigns, and places to volunteer. But in that deeply human, well-meaning intention to immediately help others comes a very real set of issues. In the aftermath of natural disasters, as Vox’s Jess Craig reported in Asheville, North Carolina, last year, resources are stretched thin, safety is a major concern, and the situation is developing and changing each day.

The nature of crises are also ripe moments for misinformation to spread. Pictures showing the Hollywood sign on fire (it never was) and rumors that the state turned away fire trucks from Oregon (proven to be not true) widely circulated. The inherent chaos of disasters also makes it easy for benevolent people to share outdated information, such as posts about donation drives that are no longer going on, that spread unintentionally. Now is the time to critically access information online before sharing to others.

But if sifting through dozens and dozens of campaigns feels overwhelming, don’t let that discourage you. If you want to help people affected by the wildfires in a meaningful way, take a minute to evaluate what aligns with your values — it can help you discern how you want to give. For instance, giving cash can be really effective in the short term, especially in low-income communities that could benefit from more support.

Here’s how you can navigate deciding whether to donate your money, items, or time, and what organizations you could give your resources to.

Deciding how and where to give

It’s easy to feel powerless when a crisis strikes and with so many calls to action in place. To figure out how you can personally help, think about if you’re trying to help immediately, in the long run, or (ideally) both.

For immediate relief, especially if you’re not local to Los Angeles, consider giving cash. Cash transfers can be simple but very effective. It allows survivors to respond to their exact needs, which they know best, in real time.

Giving money with no strings attached may help reduce poverty — though most studies on the effectiveness of cash transfers take place in low-income countries.........

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