In early January 2025, a series of devastating wildfires swept across Southern California—destroying homes, schools, and neighborhoods, and displacing more than 150,000 people. In response, Afya activated its Disaster Response program, mobilizing quickly to deliver urgently needed supplies to communities in crisis.
Read more on the program page.
From Yonkers to Southern California: Coordinated, Rapid Response
With critical support from partners including UJA-Federation of New York, JetBlue Airways, Blue Cross Blue Shield National Labor Office, the Lawrence Foundation, and the Wilf Family Foundation, Afya delivered 15 aid shipments in the first weeks of response. These deliveries—via air, rail, and truck—provided more than 32,000 pounds of medical and essential supplies to those impacted by the wildfires.
What Was Delivered
Afya coordinated shipments based on needs identified by local response organizations and medical teams, including:
- Hygiene kits, adult incontinence products, and baby formula
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and wound-care supplies
- Mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers
- Bicycles to help families with disrupted transportation
- Emergency first aid backpacks prepared by youth volunteers at the LAPD Youth Center
Volunteer-Powered Relief
More than 1,000 volunteers contributed to this effort, sorting and packing supplies at Afya’s Yonkers warehouse and through community events hosted by UJA-Federation, LionTree, and Larchmont Temple. Local partners, including mobility provider Numotion, helped ensure that individuals with disabilities received timely support.
Timeline of Key Milestones
| Date | Milestone |
| January 7 | Wildfires began; Afya initiated emergency response efforts |
| January 13–23 | JetBlue supported air transport through “Luggage for Life” |
| February–April | Freight shipments continued to shelters and care facilities |
| May onward | Ongoing impact assessment and coordination with partners |
Looking Ahead: Strengthening Disaster Response
Afya is expanding its disaster preparedness strategies to improve future relief efforts. This includes:
- Prepositioning key supplies near high-risk regions
- Enhancing logistics infrastructure through freight partnerships
- Deepening collaboration with local healthcare providers and grassroots organizations
- Applying insights from past emergencies to build more resilient systems
Thank You
Afya’s wildfire response reached more than 84,000 people across Southern California. This work was made possible by the compassion, coordination, and generosity of donors, volunteers, and partners committed to delivering aid with dignity and purpose.
Support our ongoing relief efforts by contributing to Afya’s Disaster Response Fund. Your support ensures we’re ready to respond—wherever and whenever the need arises.