South Bay Residents Unite to Support Firefighters with CREATIVE Care Packages

South Bay Families Unite to Support First Responders with Heartfelt Care Packages

Viviane Kennedy holds up a paper bag she decorated for firefighters, featuring colorful drawings and heartfelt messages of support. The bags are part of a South Bay community project to provide care packages to first responders battling the Palisades and Eaton fires.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — As the Palisades and Eaton fires continue to affect Southern California, a South Bay community project is finding creative ways to support firefighters on the frontlines.

Emie Fenton, a herbalist and founder of South Bay-based online wholesaler Practical Magic Apothecary and mother of two teenage daughters, has teamed up with her longtime friend Riscilla Christensen, a South Bay mom of three and self-development entrepreneur, to organize care packages for first responders. What began as a simple idea has grown into a coordinated effort involving local children, businesses, and even national brands.

“My friend reached out to me a few days into the fires and said firefighters needed ChapStick,” Fenton said. “I thought, OK, let’s see what we can do. So I put the word out, and people started reaching back.”

ChapStick responded with a donation of 10 cases of their SPF lip balm—each case containing 720 tubes of ChapStick. Local kids joined in by decorating the paper bags with drawings and notes of encouragement to hold the donations.

“I didn’t want to use plastic bags because of the environment,” Fenton said, adding that they decided to involve their kids. “So we used paper bags, and the kids loved it. It was a fun way for them to help without feeling overwhelmed by the crisis.”

The decorated bags were first sent to firefighters stationed in Malibu, where they received an emotional response. 

Los Angeles County Fire Department Public Information Officer Captain Sheila Kelliher with the donated bags. Photo submitted by Samantha Collings

“I sent them to a friend’s sister-in-law, whose husband is a firefighter there,” Fenton said. “She texted me back, saying, ‘These are the cutest things ever. I’m crying.’”

The project expanded when Fenton drove a shipment of ChapStick to the Pasadena fire camp, where many out-of-town firefighters are staying. Donations didn’t stop there. Fenton then partnered with WishGarden, a well-known herbal remedy brand, which is now sending lung support products to protect firefighters’ respiratory health.

“As an herbalist, my first thought was how to protect their lungs,” Fenton said.

Christensen, a single mother and community connector, highlighted the importance of leveraging relationships to make this project a success. 

“Between Emie and me, we know so many people in the community. One or two calls can make a huge difference,” she said. “The response has been astonishing.”

Samantha Collings, whose husband is a captain with L.A. County Fire, also shared how she became involved in the project.

“My husband was on a strike team for the Palisades fire, and I was feeling anxious. I just wanted to do something for them,” she said. “I put out a post on Instagram asking if anyone had connections to vitamin or supplement companies, herbs—anything to create a wellness vibe for these guys.”

Collings described how a surprise delivery from Practical Magic Apothecary arrived at her house.

“All of a sudden, in a box at my house, and I open it, and it’s about 30 adorable sandwich bags that are decorated, a little note to firemen, and they’re filled with like amazing products that they need, like eye drops, ChapStick, cough syrup, and snacks,” she said.

Collings emphasized the importance of focusing on wellness for firefighters, given the physical toll of their work.

“Firefighters often don’t think about their health while they’re working,” she said. “They give their lives to this, and it takes years off their lives. It’s our job to think about their wellness.”

Local children have also played a big role in the project. Candace Christensen, Riscilla’s 10-year-old daughter, spoke about her experience contributing to the effort by decorating the paper bags.

“They’re doing a really good job of helping and protecting us,” Candace said. “It feels good to help them because they’re really doing a good job.”

Her favorite bag design featured flowers and the message, “You are amazing.”

“It’s just saying thank you and writing little notes,” Candace said. “It’s fun to do art and help them at the same time.”

Fenton hopes the effort continues to grow. She hopes to connect with teachers to involve more kids in decorating bags and envisions hosting more community events to expand the project.

“People want to help; they just need a way to do it,” she said.

For Fenton, this project has been as much about fostering connections as it has been about the donations themselves.

“It’s been rewarding to see how much the community has come together,” she said. “Even the kids love being involved. It gives them a sense of purpose without being too scary or overwhelming.”

“This isn’t going to turn around overnight,” Christensen said. “But every little bit helps. Together, we can make a meaningful impact.”

To get involved or support this effort, email emie@practicalmagic.shop.