It’s been months since flames engulfed the city of Los Angeles. Burning for over three weeks, the fires left the Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods covered in ash and destroyed more than 37,000 acres and 16,000 structures—including thousands of houses. For Ciara Benko, who lost her childhood home, it’s finally starting to sink in.

“I joined a support group last night, and it was the first time that I was with a bunch of other people all my age talking about it, and I cried for the first time in a minute because my brain had a hard shell over it,” she says. “I was like, ‘Don’t think about it too much. Just move on, and make sure that you get your parents set up and get everything taken care of.’ And now, we just have to sit with it.”

At this point, most people who lost their homes have found new or temporary lodgings—but that doesn’t mean everything is back to normal. While the media cycle has mostly moved on, those affected are only beginning to get their footing and think about what’s next. Benko’s parents and friends are just starting to discuss how they’ll replenish the basics, from furniture to cooking essentials to clothes.

Coming Together as a Community

I’ve lived in LA for more than three years now (though they say you have to be here for five before calling yourself a true Angeleno), and amid the devastation, I’ve seen an outpouring of support for this city and those who call it home: friends putting together clothing drives, volunteering, donating. While it’s a heartbreaking situation, it seems like everyone wants to take action, and resources have accumulated quickly and generously.

“I could not handle seeing my mom so sad, so we picked some of the places that some of her favorite things were from, and I just walked into the store and asked if they were doing anything for fire victims,” Benko says. “A lot of people said ‘Yes,’ even if it was just discounts or it was full replacements.” Her dad is an avid biker, and his beloved bike was among what was lost. During a trip to the Venice Helping Hub, a volunteer named Amanda pledged she’d make it her mission to find him a new one—and within a day, she did. 

“She sent it to me, and I started sobbing,” Benko says. “I could give you so many more [stories] of people who didn’t want to just volunteer and kind of be helpful, but truly wanted to make an impact on people’s lives and just brought so much joy to us during such a dark time.”

The community coming together like this inspired Benko to compile a list of organizations and resources easing the transition for victims who have had to find a new place to live—and make them feel as at home as possible.

Free Donations

The first weeks after being displaced, Benko and her parents spent time making trips to Goodwill and donation centers to get pieces that felt lived in and would make their new place feel cozy and curated. While staying in an Airbnb, she set up a “thrift shop” every day from a trash bag full of stuff she gathered. They’d pour some wine, and look through it all. “We tried to make it kind of feel fun and indulgent when it was, you know, obviously, not that,” she says.

Here’s where you can find free furniture, decor, and even design advice—plus, how you can help if you’re able.

LA CAN DO’s Soft Landing Project

Created by design industry leaders, the relief project LA CAN DO has gathered donations, from furniture and art to basic household items, from across the country and organized them in an LA-based warehouse. Affected individuals and families can walk through and gather what they need. While they’re no longer accepting additions to the waitlist, you can still donate by filling out this form.

Zello Support

Days before the fires began, Louis Dargenzio (the previous head of Sunset Studios) planned to launch a new company to connect the entertainment community. But as the impact spread, he decided to pivot and transform their showroom into a donation center. Zello Support receives daily shipments of new and gently used furniture and home goods from television and movie sets, and offers 30-minute time slots for families to “shop” the showroom. 

“Imagine you’re watching a pilot of a TV show, and they have a home that they set up for one scene, and it looks very lifted and beautiful and homey. All of that furniture has to go somewhere, and so people donated it,” Benko explains. “Everybody that worked there was all in the entertainment business. They’re all set designers, set decorators, and runners who run stuff back and forth. And they packed everything up for us, and they put it in the truck and delivered it right to the house.”

To apply for a time slot, fill out this form on their site. 

Boll & Branch

In 2020, Boll & Branch launched a charitable program called Helping from Home, donating luxurious, organic cotton bedding to those in need during the pandemic. When the fires hit LA, the brand promoted this initiative, and thousands of families later, continue to offer free sheets, bedding, and more. Add your name to the donation list here. 

Everhem

Haley Weidenbaum, co-founder of custom window treatment brand Everhem, opened the doors of the company’s showroom to those affected by the fires in January, offering free shades, drapery, hardware, and café curtains—even for those who don’t have a home just yet. 

“As my mom and I perused the brand’s gorgeous display at Litt Concept House—comparing our visions for a home we hadn’t moved into—Haley assured us that the brand will be there for us when we’re ready,” Benko says. 

For a selection of free products, email hello@everhem.com or DM the brand at @everhem, and their team will help find your perfect window treatment.

dClutterfly

For nearly two decades, dClutterfly has specialized in “transforming your clutter crisis,” led by Angeleno Tracy McCubbin. In the wake of the wildfires, their team began grassroots efforts to connect families with not only furniture and household goods but also bespoke pieces. “Just last week, they hooked a family up with a piano!” Benko says. If you need furniture or have furniture to donate, email info@dclutterfly.com for a form.

Hotel Surplus

The outlet is donating and offering discounts on a wide array of new furniture, from sleeper sofas to rolling cots, for those in need. You can contact the team by emailing help@hotelsurplus.com.

“Imagine hotel lobby furniture or bedroom furniture, and it’s all at a super steep discount,” Benko says. “So it’s kind of a fun experience to walk through the warehouse, and they also were giving free donations to families who were displaced from the fire.”

Design Advice

The Expert Rebuild Hotline

It’s already overwhelming to curate a new home, but it’s even more so when under distressing circumstances. The Expert created the Rebuild Hotline, which offers free one-hour video calls providing professional design advice to those who lost their homes, to make it easier. The LA-based company is offering consultations throughout 2025, so you can schedule a session whenever you’re ready.

“You go through kind of a whole exercise where it’s like, ‘What’s your design aesthetic? Is it contemporary? Is it transitional? Is it rustic or midcentury?’,” Benko says. “And then they ask about what interior designers you follow, or who do you get inspired by? So they really try hard to match you with someone that’s going to bring your vision to life.”

Replacements and Discounts

At the time of publication, these are a few organizations offering discounted items. Reach out to their customer service teams for more information.

• Saatva: 30% discount on replacement mattresses.
• The Shade Store: Discounts for replacements.
• Brooklinen: Discounts for replacements.
• OurPlace: Discounts for replacements (“We got a whole goody bag with all sorts of [kitchen items]—we got a free pan, free cookware, fancy olive oils and spices and stuff, which was really fun, because my mom loves to entertain and host,” Benko says.)
• Thuma: Replacing entire bedroom sets.
• Additional list of resources for everything from furniture leasing to moving, put together by real estate firm Brock & Lori.

It can be hard to let others step up for you: Benko describes her parents as “so generous,” always letting people stay with them and giving their things away. She had to persuade them to accept these free donations and offerings, reminding them they were in need. If this resonates, remember people want to and are able to help.

“Check in on your friends and neighbors,” Benko says. “If you know someone who is affected, don’t forget about them, or don’t feel like you’re bugging them. I’ve heard from some people who are like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to bother them,’ or ‘I don’t want to bring it up in case it makes them sad.’ I think what actually it does is make them feel loved and supported and creates a safe space. It’s going to be a really long time until we’re all able to move on … So just keep checking in on people, even if it’s a simple, ‘I’m here for you,’ or, ‘Do you want to bounce some ideas off of me?’ or have someone to vent to. I think that’s my best piece of advice, is just be there for each other.”