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Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fair Trade LA, The Tote Project, and Fair Trade USA™ Distribute 100 "Fair Care Packages" to Families Affected by Los Angeles Fires
LOS ANGELES, July 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Last month, in a powerful demonstration of community solidarity and ethical commerce, Fair Trade LA, in partnership with The Tote Project and Fair Trade USA, has distributed 100 Fair Care Packages to individuals and families who lost their homes in the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Each package was filled with meaningful self-care items from Fair Trade brands, social enterprises, and businesses in the community and were curated to provide comfort, dignity, and a sense of hope to those who are rebuilding their lives. From handcrafted goods to ethically sourced wellness products, every item was chosen to uplift the recipient and serve as a tangible reminder: you are not forgotten. 'When disaster strikes, it's easy for people to feel overlooked or left behind,' said Rebecca Dunn, Executive Director of Fair Trade LA. 'We wanted each Fair Care Package to let people know that they are not forgotten, and there is a community of people who care deeply about your recovery.' A Community of Givers This initiative was made possible through the generosity of impactful brands that donated $35,000 worth of products. Brands including The Tote Project, e.l.f. Beauty, JUST ICE Tea, Numi Tea, Ten Thousand Villages, 7th Heaven Chocolate, TCHO, Sanders Candy, MADE by DWC, True Moringa, spaZa Store, COLOR WOW, and Thumbprint Artifacts contributed items to the Fair Care Packages. Each brand is committed not just to ethical production, but to supporting vulnerable communities, both abroad and at home. 'Fair trade isn't just about how something is made, it's about who it impacts,' said Michelle Chavez, Co-Founder of The Tote Project. 'We were honored to be part of a project that brought care and encouragement to our neighbors. The news cycle may have moved on, but we are still here.' With support from Fair Trade USA, this collaborative effort highlights the expanding role of conscious consumerism in crisis response and recovery. The Fair Care Packages offer a glimpse into what's possible when businesses, nonprofits, and local advocates work together to meet human needs with compassion and integrity. 'The Fair Trade movement is rooted in community. Fair Trade USA has worked for years to not just build more equity for producer communities, but to also support communities here in the United States in their advocacy for Fair Trade. When any of the communities we work with are strained and in need, we will always contribute what we can to provide support.' - Felipe Arango, CEO of Fair Trade USA About Fair Trade LA: Fair Trade LA is a passionate community dedicated to creating a fairer world by supporting ethical and sustainable trade. Our mission is to promote fair trade principles, ensuring that artisans and farmers around the world receive fair wages and work in safe conditions. About The Tote Project: The Tote Project is a fair trade collection of ethically and sustainably made giftable goods that exists to empower survivors of human trafficking. About Fair Trade USA: Fair Trade USA™, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the leading certifier of fair trade products in North America. Offering award-winning, rigorous, and globally recognized sustainable sourcing certification programs that improve livelihoods, protect the environment, and build resilient, transparent supply chains, its trusted Fair Trade Certified™ seal on a product signifies that it was made according to stringent fair trade standards. Fair Trade USA is building an innovative model of responsible business, conscious consumerism, and shared value to eliminate poverty and enable sustainable development for farmers, workers, their families, and communities around the world. Media Contact: Fair Trade USA Public Relations [email protected] To view the full list of participating brands or learn how to contribute to future initiatives, visit @FairTradeLA , @TheToteProject or @fairtradecertified on Instagram. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fair Trade USA™
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DoorDash awards $200,000 in wildfire recovery grants to L.A. restaurants
DoorDash has awarded $10,000 grants to 20 Los Angeles-area restaurants affected by the January wildfires, in an effort to provide a financial lifeline to small businesses as they continue efforts to rebuild. The grants, part of DoorDash's Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, were announced during a gathering at the former site of Amara Kitchen in Altadena, which was destroyed in the Eaton Fire earlier this year. The event brought together local restaurant owners, community leaders and residents to recognize the role small eateries play in their communities and the resilience they've shown in the face of disaster. 'When we lost Amara Kitchen to the fire, we lost more than just a building—we lost a gathering space, memories, and a part of our identity,' said owner Paola Guasp. 'There have been moments of heartbreak, but also of deep gratitude. This support from DoorDash gives us hope and helps us begin the hard but hopeful work of rebuilding.' The grants are designed to help restaurant owners cover critical expenses like rent, payroll, inventory and equipment replacement. For many of the 20 recipients, the funds represent a path toward reopening or continuing operations after the wildfires caused significant setbacks. 'Local restaurants are the beating heart of Altadena and neighborhoods across Los Angeles,' said Judy Matthews, president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce. 'They nourish us, employ us and reflect the incredible diversity of our region.' Since its launch in 2021, DoorDash says its Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund has distributed over $2.5 million in aid to more than 250 small businesses affected by natural disasters across the country. Los Angeles-area grant recipients include: Amara Kitchen, Pasadena Azar's Sports Bar & Grill, Newbury Park Cafe de Leche, Altadena Coffee and Plants, Pasadena Cuernavaca's Grill, Los Angeles Emma Habesha Restaurant, Inglewood Go China, Pasadena Hello You're Welcome, Pasadena Side Pie, Hayward Monsieur Crepe Cafe, Sierra Madre Mother Moo Creamery, Sierra Madre OLLO, Malibu Renovo Inc, Arcadia Sampa's Pizza, Santa Monica / Marina Del Rey San Marino Cafe and Marketplace, San Marino Sorry Not Sorry, Los Angeles Spruzzo Restaurant & Bar, Pacific Palisades Sugarbird Sweets and Teas, Glendale Vienna Pastry, Los Angeles Xuntos, Santa Monica DoorDash said the grant program will continue to offer support to small restaurants facing hardship from disasters, reinforcing its commitment to helping communities recover and thrive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
