Nurses Lead Scrubs & Shoe Drive to Help Healthcare Workers Rebuild After CA Wildfires
When wildfires ravaged parts of Los Angeles, displacing families and uprooting lives, the nursing community did what it does best—banded together with compassion, resilience, and a touch of scrappy ingenuity. For many nurses who lost everything, this outpouring of love and support has been a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.
Last week, Nurse.org was contacted by our podcast host, nurse Jeri Ford, to help spread the word about efforts to collect scrubs donations for nurses in need. She was doing an amazing job spreading the word, but wanted to put us in touch with a local grassroots team, led by nurse Kate.
In this article, we’re highlighting a Southern California nurse, Kate, who assembled a team of fantastic nurses to meet the needs of local healthcare workers following the devastating wildfires this January. The team used their resources to rally donations, from scrubs to stethoscopes to shoes. In an effort to reach a wider network of HCWs in need, she has documented the efforts on Instagram @scrubscafires, where she highlights the contributions of her fellow volunteers.
“Let me tell you, the effort to help has been nothing short of amazing...and maybe a little exhausting, but totally worth it,” Kate told Nurse.org.
Helping Nurses in Need
We’ve seen nurses, medical brands, and kind-hearted individuals step up in incredible ways to meet the needs of their colleagues. If you're a medical worker and are in need of scrubs, shoes or medical apparel -- fill out this form to request a donation.
Thanks to everyone’s generosity, nurse Katie and her team of volunteers have managed to distribute:
- 75 scrub tops
- 70 scrub bottoms
- 10 stethoscopes
- 14 pairs of socks (mostly compression, because nurses know the value of good circulation)
- 5 jackets
- 1 vest
- 2 fanny packs (because hands-free is a nurse’s love language)
- 8 work bags
Oh, and the group didn’t forget the essentials like hair ties and pens.
Grassroots Effort
This grassroots effort has reached an incredible range of healthcare professionals, including RNs, LVNs, NPs, MAs, PAs, pharmacists, and nursing home assistants. They’ve worked hard to match donations to specific needs—scrubs folded and sorted by size and color, shoes matched to feet, and stethoscopes sent to new homes where they’ll be put to great use.
The reach has grown, thanks in part to Tracy, a fellow nurse whom Kate met at an evacuation shelter on day one of the fires. Tracy is a mutual-aid superhero who’s been organizing PPE and other resources for the LA community since 2020. Together, Kate, Tracy and the team have been channeling donations to a hospital community closet, where items are immediately snapped up. Extras are being donated to local nursing students, because every future nurse deserves a solid start.
Local Support and Beyond
This effort has drawn support from all corners. A retired RN named Kathy joined the team after emailing to offer help. She’s been dropping off donations to those displaced over an hour away, and her energy has been such a boost.
Out-of-state nurses have pitched in too, following the effort through Instagram @snarkynurses posted about the need for donation. With permission, the grassroots team connected local HCWs with out-of-state helpers who are shipping donations directly.
💜Shoutouts to the Companies Who Have Helped
According to Kate, the support from medical brands has been mind-blowing.
- Fabletics has been a game-changer, helping the team secure a space in downtown Pasadena for pickups.
- Paul from stethoscopes.com is on his second shipment of donated stethoscopes.
- Allbirds donated shoes, including a stash of gently used pairs that have been lifesavers.
- New Balance stores in Pasadena donated shoes.
- Modella Uniforms, a small local scrub company, came through on night one with everything needed.
- Anthony from Soleya Scrubs has gone above and beyond, rallying other companies and even connecting Kate with a social media influencer to spread the word.
- Bombas, donated socks without hesitation.
- DK scrubs from Minnesota donated scrubs.
- Create Amor scrubs also donated scrubs.
In addition to the companies above who directly and immediately offered help, the following companies are offering support to the medical community in California.
- Clove shoes: Is sending Clove care packages filled with socks to those in need. If your unit could use these items email support@goclove.com.
- Figs scrubs: Has a full team here working on varying LA fire relief efforts. Email HereforLA@wearFIGS.com
for any healthcare-related requests. - Jaanuu scrubs: Has a form that HCPs affected by the LA fires can fill out, after which we will do our best to send them new scrubs to replace what they lost! Please find the form here.
- STAND+ shoes: Has done personal drop-offs with every pair they had on and are currently donating to the California Fire Foundation with every pair sold.
The Power of Community
This effort has shown the best of humanity. Nurses from Kate's hospital rallied to collect donations, saving her countless trips. Friends washed, folded, and drove items across the city. A former nursing professor, a college roommate, and even a family friend chipped in money to fill gaps for items like BP cuffs and pulse oximeters.
One recipient sent a heartfelt email we shared on Instagram (with her permission, of course). A former NICU nurse donated her scrubs with a sweet note attached. Messages like these remind us why we do this work.
Moving Forward
While Kate’s team has started winding down the mass donation phase, they’re still here to help as needs arise. Kate says that the work has been a labor of love—but, “connecting with healthcare workers, hearing their stories, and being part of this community has been a gift.”
“To everyone who has donated, driven, folded, or simply offered encouragement—thank you from the bottom of my heart. Nurses supporting nurses isn’t just a slogan; it’s who we are. And in moments like these, it’s clear just how much good we can do together,” said Kate.
💜 If you were effected by the California wildfires and are in need of scrubs, shoes or medical apparel click here to fill out the donation request form.
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