Bay Area fundraisers: Concert, car wash and small businesses helping L.A. fire victims
Bay Area residents are holding fundraisers to help Southern California fire victims this weekend. There will be a car wash in Oakland on Saturday, Jan. 11 and a concert in San Francisco on Sunday, Jan. 12.
Concert
Rose Crelli wants to use her artistry to help uplift those who've suffered loss in the fires. The violinist plans to hold a concert fundraiser in her Hayes Valley neighborhood.
"Music is about spreading joy, making the world a better place," said Rose.
As a professional musician, she has performed for the Golden State Warriors and for the San Francisco Giants.
While she loves performing at large venues, she said her other passion is to organize fundraisers.
The Chinese-American violinist said she's organized two previous fundraisers for the people of Ukraine and earthquake victims in Turkey.
This time, the devastation has hit close to home.
"I know so many friends who've lost family homes, beloved pets, and I see the urge in people to want to help," said Rose.
Car wash
In the East Bay, Sirl Wilson, co-founder of Lu Lu's House, a nonprofit that helps at risk youth and formerly incarcerated adults, said he wants to help fire victims get back on their feet.
The nonprofit will hold a car wash at the corner of 85th Avenue and San Leandro Street in Oakland on Jan. 11.
"We know how it is to be out there with nothing, with no hope, with nobody helping . We're coming to give help and to give hope," said Wilson.
He said donations are tax-deductible, and 80 percent will go to the Red Cross for the fire victims.
Despite the loss and devastation left by the fires, Rose said she and others can help those who are suffering heal through hope.
"I know it's within my power to have even a small positive influence. I want to try and go ahead and do that," said the musician.
The concert fundraiser will be held the afternoon of Jan. 12 at 1 o'clock at Patricia's Green Park in San Francisco.
Rose will have information on the site for people to donate directly to one of the nonprofits she's designated.
Food fundraisers
Bay Area small businesses are also finding ways to help.
Hella Bagels in Berkeley added a special huevos rancheros bagel to the menu, with all proceeds from it going to Feed the Streets LA. The non-profit is getting food, water and hygiene products to people displaced by the fires.
"For us as a small business, the biggest thing that was important to me was providing assistance to someone on the ground with not as much notoriety as some of the larger organizations that are providing support," said Hella Bagels owner Blake Hunter.
On Saturday alone, the bagel raised $500.
Black Jet Bakery in San Francisco is taking a similar approach by designing an "I Love L.A." coconut layer cake. Owner Gillian Shaw Lundgren said $50 of the $70 price tag is going to Restaurants Care, a relief fund for food and beverage workers.
And at the bar The Snug in San Francisco, they're selling a new drink called City of Angels.
Bartender Leah Hanley, who grew up in Altadena, created the drink, even adding ingredients inspired by Los Angeles, like rosewater to represent the city of Pasadena.
"The school I went to is gone as well as a lot of the homes of people I grew up with that I love and care about deeply, so we’re just happy to do our small part, as much as we can from up here," said Hanley.
Amber Lee is a reporter with KTVU. Email Amber at Amber.Lee@Fox.com or text/leave message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU