A Look At: Art Kits for Fire Relief Volunteer Event with The Natural History Museum

Feb. 9th, 2025

When wildfires swept through Los Angeles in January 2025, families faced loss, displacement, and uncertainty. In moments like these, kids need more than just essentials—they need space to process, play, and express. We turned to the tool we know best—art—to bring a spark of joy and healing.

With the help of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles (NHMLA) and a network of local organizations, we distributed 450 Art Kits to kids impacted by the fires. Each kit was filled with high-quality supplies, offering a simple but meaningful way for children to create fearlessly from anywhere.

But before the kits made their way to families, a group of 40 incredible volunteers gathered in Exposition Park for a morning of giving back—packing art kits, sharing stories, and making an impact together. Afterward, they were free to spend the afternoon wandering the museum, exploring everything from towering dinosaur skeletons to the fascinating history of LA’s many ecosystems.

How It Worked

1. NHMLA Hosted the Event
   The museum invited Give Kids Art to be part of a community day, offering space for us to share our mission with visitors.

2. We Assembled and Distributed Art Kits
   Our team packed each kit with materials designed for open-ended creativity. After the event, volunteers delivered them to trusted community partners already serving wildfire-affected families.

3. Families Received Kits Through Local Organizations
   By working with schools, shelters, and nonprofits, we ensured that the kits made it directly into the hands of children who needed them most—no extra steps, no barriers.

4. A Simple but Lasting Impact
   Art can be a powerful tool for healing. Parents and caregivers told us how much it meant for their kids to have creative tools of their own.

Bringing People Together for a Simple, Lasting Impact

This event wasn’t just about distributing art kits—it was about community. From the volunteers who spent their morning assembling supplies to the museum that welcomed us into their space, every piece came together to make something special. In just a few hours, we turned simple materials into hundreds of moments of creativity for kids who needed them most. And the best part? This model is easy to replicate.

Interested in Hosting a Volunteer Event?

Whether you’re a museum, library, school, or company looking for a meaningful way to give back, we make it simple.

✅ Minimal Effort for the Host – NHMLA simply provided space and helped spread the word.
✅ Turnkey Execution – Give Kids Art handles everything from sourcing materials to coordinating distribution.
✅ Maximum Impact – Hundreds of kids received high-quality supplies to spark creativity and joy.

Hosting an Art Kit Activation

This event showed us how easy and effective it can be to get art supplies into the hands of kids who need them. If your organization wants to partner with us—whether by hosting, funding, or distributing kits—we’d love to make it happen.

Want to learn more? Email us at hello@givekidsart.org!