This week the stench of fire smoke brings home the threat of fire to our tinder-dry state. If you want to help our friends and neighbors around the Bay Area, and the firefighters working to protect all of us, here is a good run down of ways to contribute, from The Mercury News:
Wildfire season has descended on Northern California with a vengeance, sparked by lightning, heat and high winds. With more than half a million acres burned and evacuations in full progress across the Bay Area, many people have begun wondering how they can help. Here are a few options.
American Red Cross: Donations will go to the Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts. https://www.redcross.org/donate/
Big Basin Redwoods Recovery Fund: Donations are needed to rebuild Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Click the donate button at: www.thatsmypark.org/parks-and-beaches/big-basin-redwoods-state-park/
California Fire Foundation: This foundation provides emotional and financial assistance to families of fallen firefighters, firefighters and the communities they protect. Find details on how to help at https://www.cafirefoundation.org/.
CDP California Wildfires Recovery Fund: Help the Center for Disaster Philanthropy support those affected by the wildfires. https://disasterphilanthropy.org/issue-insight/wildfires/
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County: This foundation is seeking help to support those affected by the lightning complex fires. www.cfscc.org/updates/fire-response-fund
GlobalGiving — California Wildfire: Providing support for firefighters and supplying food, water and medicine to people in need. www.globalgiving.org/california-wildfires/
GoFundMe: Has launched a centralized hub of fundraisers that will help residents who have lost their homes and have been displaced by the fires. www.gofundme.com/c/safety/gofundme-guarantee. In addition, they have launched California Wildfire Cause General Fund to offer relief to Californians in need. www.gofundme.com/f/CaliforniaWildfireReliefFund
Latino Community Foundation NorCal Wildfire Relief Fund: Supporting frontline community partners, who are helping those affected by the August 2020 wildfires. https://latinocf.org/norcal-wildfire-relief-fund/
Monterey County Community Resilience Program: Send supplies, donate money or lend a hand to those impacted by the River Fire. https://montereyco.recovers.org/
Napa Valley Community Foundation’s 2020 Napa County Wildfire Fund: Providing relief and recovery services to those affected by this most recent disaster in Napa Valley. https://www.napavalleycf.org/
Off the Grid NorCal Fire Fund: Donations will provide meals to those affected by the Bay Area fire. https://offthegrid.com/relief-efforts/. If you are a corporate partner or food truck business and wish to help, join the effort at https://offthegrid.com/norcal-fire-relief/.
Puente: Donations needed to help provide staffing at the Half Moon Bay Evacuation Center 24/7 and hotel vouchers. https://mypuente.org/
The Real Cowboy 911: Find information on this group that offers assistance with livestock and pets in emergency situations at bayareane.ws/RealCowboy911.
The Salvation Army: Donations support disaster relief for the current wildfires as well as potential future disasters. https://deloro.salvationarmy.org/del_oro/august-2020-wildfires
Solano Disaster Relief Fund: Grants from this fund will help nonprofits provide individuals and families impacted by the wildfires. https://www.solanocf.org/Funds/
Tony LaRussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation: ARF partners in emergency disaster relief and provides help with animals in need. https://secure3.convio.net/arf/site/Donation
Vema Net: Volunteers for the Emergency Management of Animals Network is a free online bulletin board where people can offer or ask for help with animals in need of evacuation and a temporary safe haven. http://vemanet.org
Wildfire Relief Fund: Supporting immediate, mid- and long term recovery efforts for major California wildfires. https://www.calfund.org/wildfire-relief-fund/
Woodside Community Foundation Disaster Relief Fund: Help support large animal disaster relief. https://woodsidegiving.org/disaster-relief-update.html
World Central Kitchen: Chef José Andres’ World Central Kitchen is feeding firefighters and evacuees. Donations needed. https://wck.org/