Former ‘Bachelor’ lead, Ben Higgins, serving to victims of CA fires

GOLDEN, Colo. — As fires proceed to rage throughout Los Angeles, increasingly folks in Colorado are stepping as much as assist households in want.

Denver7 sat down with Former ‘Bachelor’ lead Ben Higgins, who lives in Colorado however is utilizing his massive platform and following to make a distinction for these impacted by the fires in California.

Higgins mentioned Los Angeles is a second house to him, the vast majority of his pals reside there.

He mentioned it was heart-breaking to listen to about the devastating fires, inflicting destruction in a group he is near.

“It is disorienting. Lots of instances when pals are going by means of one thing, there’s at all times one clear method to assist, and I believe on this scenario, it is felt uncontrollable for not solely them, but additionally for a good friend, as a result of you do not know how they need assistance. You do not know the present standing of their house, you do not know the place they’ll be shifting to or the place they’ve to seek out shelter,” Higgins mentioned.

Higgins tells Denver7 he knew straight away that he wished to determine a option to help them as greatest he may.

“I’ve so many pals there. So many individuals I work with there. It is a spot that’s close to to my coronary heart,” he added.

Higgins is working alongside Mission HOPE, a company that’s offering pressing reduction to those that have been displaced.

“I simply spoke to the group, and what they’re discovering is that they know with any catastrophe, psychological well being is a precedence for the youngsters and for the households, and they also’re establishing constructions proper now to present psychological well being help to take care of these uninsured, which many in a few of these areas are — and so they’re on the bottom to assist nonetheless they’ll proper now,” Higgins mentioned.

As well as, Mission HOPE has been visiting shelters and well being clinics to help evacuees, well being staff, and marginalized communities which have been impacted by the fires.

The group mentioned shelters want high-quality masks to filter smoke, hygiene provides like cleaning soap and shampoo, and bedding supplies like blankets, pillows, and mattress pads.

Additionally they anticipate each a right away and long-term want for psychological well being help given how disasters like this could result in nervousness, melancholy, and post-traumatic stress dysfunction.

Ethan Swope/AP

Higgins mentioned it is necessary to do not forget that these fireplace victims will want help now and even perhaps extra down the street, when the fires are now not high of thoughts.

“Proper now, individuals are nonetheless residing in resorts. They’re nonetheless displaced. Lots of people, , the fires are nonetheless burning. Youngsters have misplaced their faculties. Households have misplaced their place of worship,” he added.

Higgins, who has over 1,000,000 followers on social media, is encouraging his followers to do their half too.

“One of many best presents in my life has been this platform being handed to me. I used to be as soon as inspired to make use of it for one thing better than myself, and in conditions like this, utilizing a platform for one thing better than myself is one thing that I will do, and I need to do,” mentioned Higgins, “I’ve constructed this platform of loads of beneficiant individuals who care very deeply about others. It is what this group that I am part of is — it is beneficiant in nature, and so to have the ability to converse out in conditions like this, to ask folks to be beneficiant and to contemplate anyone else and to look left and proper.. for many who really feel like outsiders, which proper now, most individuals in LA do, it was necessary to me.”

You’ll be able to donate to Mission HOPE right here.