The School of Dramatic Arts’ Sparks Center for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion organized a charity drive for essential items amid the devastating wildfires that burned across Los Angeles last month — the most destructive in L.A. history.

Anita Dashiell-Sparks, a professor of theatre practice and associate dean of DEI at SDA, said the goal of the drive was to support those most affected by the fires, collecting donations and assisting with distribution in tandem with several L.A. programs.

“There were so many of us: myself, faculty and staff, administrators and students, alumni of the School of Dramatic Arts that were just trying to figure out what can be done,” Sparks said. “What can we do to really help support members of our immediate community as well as our extended community who are in need right now?”

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The drive was established Jan. 10, and SDA planned to run it for one week. However, following an outpouring of support, the drive was extended until the end of the month. Student workers in the Sparks Center helped inventory and organize the incoming donations before they were transported to drop-off sites for organizations such as Altadena Girls, Altadena Boys, the National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles and the American Red Cross.

Sparks noted that particular support was offered to affected members of faculty and alumni, with focus on displaced members of the USC and SDA community. Unique care packages were assembled for and — on occasion — delivered to the affected families if they could not physically come and collect them.

“We wanted people to know that they weren’t alone, and that they had support that will be with them every step of the way,” Sparks said. “I think just allowing that kind of space and time to get responses from those that were in need, so that we could be as thoughtful and intentional with what we were pulling from the drive … based on what they articulated they need in terms of where they are right now.”

The drive has also collaborated with SDA student organizations and made plans for several “days of fun” over the course of the spring semester to offer parents and caregivers within SDA and the larger USC community a safe place to drop off their kids should they need to attend to other concerns.

Many members of the USC community were profoundly affected by these fires. Samantha Salamoff, an undergraduate student majoring in theatre with an emphasis in acting, described her experience evacuating from her Pasadena home. She recalled the smell of burning.

“There’s a part of a telephone pole that fell off near our street, and you can see the wire bouncing off the ground because it still had electricity running through it,” Salamoff said. “It just looked like an apocalypse film.”

While Salamoff’s home remained untouched apart from the soot and heavy wind damage, many in her community were not as fortunate. Donation drives were heavily supported at the Rose Bowl and shelters throughout the Pasadena area. Salamoff and her family donated some items to these drives, and while Salamoff was unaware of the SDA drive, she expressed gratitude for support from within the community, saying she had professors who lost their homes in the fires.

“I think that’s wonderful that USC is also doing [a drive],” Salamoff said, “because a lot of people at USC are from California, and specifically in the L.A. area, especially in the Palisades.”

Kiera Reinhard, a junior majoring in theatrical design, said she knew a student who lost their home in the Palisades fire.

“I’m glad [SDA is] doing it because a lot of the big wildfire relief drives reach capacity really early on for accepting donations, especially clothes,” Reinhard said, “and I wanted to still give back, so it was good to have an outlet to do so.”

The Sparks Center is located on the second floor of the Dramatic Arts Building and is accepting non-perishables, toiletries, hygiene products, blankets, bedding, and new or gently used clothing.