May 13, 2025
3 min read
How Wells Fargo is supporting Los Angeles-area customers, employees affected by wildfires
If you’ve been affected by these wildfires or want to support the response, here’s what you can do.
[Video overview: Wells Fargo employees Jennifer Langan, Justine Gonzales, and Jay Hong share their thoughts on volunteering to support those impacted by the Los Angles-area wildfires.]
[Music]
[Jennifer Langan, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
Today we’ve got quite a few volunteers out here in Altadena preparing meals for the local community. It’s been a really fun experience, working with employees from across the greater L.A. area for Wells Fargo. It’s just been a really heartwarming community event, and I’m so happy to be, and proud to be part of it.
[Justine Gonzales, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
I myself am a resident of the Pasadena/Altadena area and was evacuated from my home. It’s really personal to be able to be here today and helping the community.
[Jay Hong, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
Wells has always been community-oriented. And honestly, it’s a privilege to work for a company that allows us to spend our time giving back to the community and volunteering. I’m just glad I can be part of it.
[Langan]
I live here in the greater Pasadena community. Like many people, many employees, I was displaced during the fires. Fortunately, my home was fine. But frankly, I know dozens and dozens of families, who, you know, unfortunately lost their home in this tragedy. So we need to do all we can to support the Altadena community now and going forward.
[On-screen text]
© 2025 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.
Watch: More than a million meals have been served by World Central Kitchen’s Rapid Response Mobile Kitchen as of March, thanks in part to Wells Fargo employee volunteers. Its fleet of mobile kitchens includes HOPE 1, a 43-foot-long truck made possible by a $500,000 grant from Wells Fargo. (0:59)
Our hearts are with the employees, customers, and communities impacted by the wildfires that have devastated the Greater Los Angeles area.
A quick response to this disaster is critical, and Wells Fargo is supporting organizations providing on-the-ground support for shelter, supplies, and other needs.
That’s why, with its $2 million donation, the Wells Fargo Foundation is donating initially to:
- The American Red Cross
- The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund
- The Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Canyon Fire Relief and Recovery Fund
- The Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
- The LA Region Small Business and Worker Relief Funds
Wells Fargo is also providing ongoing support to the American Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Program and Team Rubicon’s Ready Reserve Fund.
Financial recovery coaching for Los Angeles residents and businesses
Wells Fargo has also partnered with the nonprofit Operation HOPE to bring free disaster recovery credit and money management coaching to some of the most impacted areas in Los Angeles.
Local residents and small business owners can work with financial coaches at several Wells Fargo branches to take hold of their finances as part of the Project Restore HOPE Los Angeles initiative. The five-year effort has a goal of helping those affected by the wildfires with immediate and long-term financial recovery by helping them with FEMA applications, SBA loans, insurance claims, working with creditors, building a recovery budget, and much more.
If you’re interested in seeking financial recovery services or assistance through the program, contact Operation HOPE Inside Disaster or visit one of these Wells Fargo branches:
- Wells Fargo — La Canada: 555 Foothill Blvd., La Canada, CA 91011
- Wells Fargo — Montrose: 2434 Honolulu Ave., Montrose, CA 91020
- Wells Fargo — Hastings Ranch: 3701 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
- Wells Fargo — North Pasadena: 1830 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104
- Wells Fargo — Pasadena Lake: 82 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101
“We recognize that financial recovery is just as crucial as physical rebuilding after a disaster,” said Alice Juarez, a Wells Fargo regional banch network executive. “The wildfires in Los Angeles have left many families facing uncertainty, and we are committed to supporting their path forward.”
[Video overview: Roger Castle, Chief Development Officer of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Wells Fargo volunteers Robin Choi, Alice Juarez, Erica Tejada, and Allison Niewenhuis discuss packing food kits and other efforts to support those impacted by the Los Angeles-area wildfires.]
[Music]
[Roger Castle, Chief Development Officer, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank]
So today, we’re at our facility in the City of Industry where we’re packing food kits, either emergency food kits or food kits for seniors. We really heavily rely on volunteers to do this work. So you can imagine this cost savings that, companies like Wells Fargo coming in with 200 volunteers, really helps the food bank provide food to the community.
[On-screen text}
We’re packing food kits
We rely on volunteers
Wells Fargo
200 volunteers
[Robin Choi, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
Giving back to our community has always been a part of our DNA at Wells Fargo, as long as I can remember. But what’s special about today is a lot of the victims of the wildfires are actually counting on food banks. And so, given the impact of the fires that have happened over the last several weeks, we felt it necessary for us to come out and do our part to go ahead and support Los Angeles recovery.
[On-screen text]
Giving back
Impact of the fires
[Castle]
The food bank feeds about 900,000 people each month, before any type of disaster. But during the pandemic and now during disaster with the LA wildfires, we’ve seen a marked increase in the people that need food assistance.
[On-screen text]
Feeds about 900,000 people each month
Marked increase in the people that need food assistance
[Alice Juarez, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
My hope is really a couple of things. One, that we’re able to show our teams that it’s important to give back, and we spend that time out there because our company wants to make sure our community is successful.
The other thing is really to help others know the importance of coming to volunteer here in Los Angeles so that we are stronger together.
[On-screen text]
My hope
Coming to volunteer
Stronger together
[Erica Tejada, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
Being able to volunteer, and being able to give time is really important. And I’m afforded that opportunity through not only Wells Fargo, who gives us the chance to do this, but also because I’m able to do so. And I want my team to see that I can do this so that they can do the same thing.
[Allison Niewenhuis, Wells Fargo Volunteer]
There’s a lot of heartache in our communities right now. And so if we can take a little bit of that away by ensuring they have a nice, balanced meal to come home to and take care of their kids and their parents and their family, this takes a little bit off their plate, and we want to be a part of that.
[On-screen text]
© 2025 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved.
Watch: Wells Fargo employees packed emergency food kits at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, a resource that LA County residents increasingly relied on for meals after the recent wildfires. (1:55)
Have you been affected by the recent wildfires?
For affected customers and clients
There may be assistance options for Wells Fargo customers and clients to help alleviate financial stress. Fee waivers, payment deferrals, and other kinds of support may be possible.
If you’re a customer whose property was damaged in the wildfires, you should first report it to your homeowner’s insurance company. After that, depending on your situation, you can reach Wells Fargo:
- Home Mortgage customers: 1-888-818-9147 for our Disaster Assistance team
- Home Equity customers: 1-866-355-1540
- Customers with insurance claim questions: 1-866-826-4902
- Commercial business customers: Reach your relationship manager or client service officer, or contact Global Treasury Management Service at 1-800-AT-WELLS (1-800-289-3557)
Customers can find branch and ATM accessibility information through this locator.
For affected employees
For Wells Fargo employees affected by the wildfires, the We Care Fund supports colleagues facing sudden, unforeseen financial hardship. Another resource is Wells Fargo’s Employee Assistance Program, which offers 24/7 free and confidential emotional counseling and access to other resources.
“Our priority is supporting employees and customers who have been affected by this tragic situation,” said Jason Rosenberg, Wells Fargo’s head of Public Affairs. “We will stand with the Los Angeles community for as long as it takes and keep looking for ways to contribute to the recovery from this disaster. We have a long, shared history with the city and hope our efforts can help bring some critical relief.”
