GoFundMe campaigns raise more than $100M for LA wildfire victims as site protects against vile scams
More than $100 million has been donated to victims of the Los Angeles wildfires through GoFundMe campaigns — the popular crowdfunding platform that verifies all accounts to protect against scams.The massive outpouring of funds will directly help families, communities and businesses affected by the fires and support nonprofits providing relief on the ground, including World Central Kitchen, Direct Relief and the Salvation Army, according to a company spokesperson.More than 100,000 residents have been displaced since the wildfires — initially fueled by hurricane strength winds — destroyed more than 10,000 properties in coastal communities near Los Angeles.
The blazes were blamed for 25 deaths, and 26 people remain missing.The scale and scope of the devastation has shocked people from around the world who have opened their hearts and wallets to help those affected.Among those receiving donations through GoFundMe campaigns were John Stuhlman, 53, a fire inspector with the Los Angeles Fire Department, and his wife, Monica, who lost their house of 17 years in the Eaton fire that tore through their hometown of Altadena.“It’s ground zero there.It’s like a bomb hit,” Monica Stuhlman told The Post.“It’s like Beirut or something.”Monica Stuhlman told The Post that LAFD personnel helped her and her husband search for valued possessions in the wreckage, including her wedding ring and her wedding dress.“Firefighters gathered trying to find my jewelry but everything melted,” she said, breaking down in tears.John Stuhlman is mourning other valuable heirlooms, including his Marine Corps uniform as well as his father’s uniform.“The only thing we had was the clothes that we left with,” he told The Post.Monica Stuhlman said the possessions she and her husband lost were “not replacable.”“In a moment, it was gone.
Our life just changed from one minute to another,” she said.The Stuhlmans and their dog, Winston, are staying at a friend’s house.In ...