(Updated, Oct. 12, 2017)
Ways You Can Help Fire Victims
Our hearts go out to those impacted by the ongoing wildfires in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Napa and other areas north of us.
There are several relief efforts being coordinated across the region to respond to the ongoing devastation. Below is a list of ways you help.
MAKE A MONETARY DONATION
Consider making a cash donation. Several drop-off donation centers are becoming harder to access as police and fire need roads open for more possible evacuations and emergency vehicle-access. You can make cash donations to these organizations:
Santa Rosa Junior College
The SRJC Fire Relief Fund has been established to support the urgent needs of current students and employees, and the SRJC Foundation has made an initial gift of $100,000 that will begin to be distributed as early as next week.
With the growing anticipated need, our sister college is seeking additional community support to help students, faculty, and staff begin to rebuild their lives.
Donations to the SRJC Fire Relief Fund may be made online at https://santarosajc.ejoinme.org/firerelief.
City of Santa Rosa
The City of Santa Rosa also set up its own YouCaring page to assist Tubbs Fire Victims. A slew of Bay Area sports teams, including the San Francisco 49ers and the Golden State Warriors, pledged $450,000 on a YouCaring page and have invited fans to contribute.
2017 North Bay Fire Relief Fund
Redwood Credit Union, in partnership with state Sen. Mike McGuire and The Press Democrat, has established the 2017 North Bay Fire Relief Fund to assist people impacted by the wildfires that have ravaged four counties.
The credit union is paying the fund’s administrative costs, allowing all donated funds to directly aid fire victims and relief efforts. Donors may designate their contributions to all four counties — Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake — or elect to support an individual county.
Contributions to the fund may be made online at http://www.redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief or at any of RCU’s 17 North Bay and San Francisco locations.
You can also write a check payable to the RCU Community Fund, with 2017 North Bay Fire Relief in the memo line along with a notation “all” or a designated county, may be mailed to RCU Community Fund, P.O. Box 6104, Santa Rosa, 95406.
Sonoma County Resilience Fund
The Community Foundation Sonoma County has received a $250,000 seed gift from Facebook to its Sonoma County Resilience Fund to address mid- to long-term needs of fire victims. Donations may be made online at http://www.sonomacf.org/sonoma-county-resilience-fund/.
The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund
The Community Foundation of the Napa Valley has created the The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund to help fire victims.
The Red Cross
People can also donate directly to the Red Cross Disaster Relief at any time by dialing 1-800 RED CROSS. To make a quick, one-time donation of $10, text REDCROSS to 90999. The donation is used to respond to disasters “big and small.”
GoFundMe Campaigns
There are a couple of GoFundMe online fundraising campaigns that have been set up to help fire victims through various ways:
- Hot Food for North Bay Fire Victims
https://www.gofundme.com/hot-food-for-north-bay-fire-victims
- Supplies for North Fire Victims
https://www.gofundme.com/supplies-for-north-bay-fire-victims
FOOD & OTHER DONATIONS
Though monetary donations are most encouraged, there are drop-off centers accepting food and other item donations. Again, please note, that some of these drop-off centers may become harder to access as police and fire need roads open.
Food Donations
Food donations need to be packaged. No homemade food can be accepted.
- Food pantries of Sonoma County, various locations, sonoma.networkofcare.org
- Food pantries of Napa County, various locations, foodpantries.org
- Food pantries of Yuba County, various locations, sutter.networkofcare.org
- California Association of Food Banks, various locations, cafoodbanks.org/find-food-bank
In Petaluma
Petaluma officials have posted on social media asking for people to donate supplies, including baby food, pet food, water, blankets, and toilet paper, to these evacuation centers:
Adobe Christian Church — 2875 Adobe Rd.
Calvary Chapel — 1955 S McDowell Blvd.
Petaluma United Methodist Church — 410 D St.
Petaluma Church of Christ — 370 Sonoma Mountain Pky.
Petaluma Veteran’s Memorial Building — 1094 Petaluma Blvd
Casa Grande School — 333 Casa Grande Rd.
OTHER
Berkeleyside.com has posted a page that is updated frequently about East Bay food businesses helping those affected by North Bay fires.
To view their list, click here.
CONSIDER GIVING ALSO TO LANEY
Laney College provides one-time support scholarships for students facing unforeseen financial difficulties that impact their ability to attend school. Consider giving to the fund today. Please visit, https://laney.edu/president/emergencyfund/.
For those displaced or who know someone who is, please see the list of organizations offering the following for free to evacuees:
FREE FOOD / WATER:
- Amy’s Drive Thru in Rohnert Park: offering free meals to those evacuated. If you choose to pay for a evacuees meal, 100% of that money will be donated to help in the aids effort. (10/10/17 3:30pm)
- Nopalito (10/10/17): offering free burritos from 11-3 (1905 Bodega Ave)
- McGuires is offering free food
- Mystic Theatre/McNears (10/10/17): Serving Breakfast 9-11, Serving Lunch-soup and sandwiches from 12-3, Serving Dinner from 5-8. They can deliver or make meals to go. Contact them directly at 707-765-2121
- Sauced BBQ Restaurant (10/10/17): Serving free food from 9-4, offering place to rest and view TV
- Sweet Zone (10/10/17): Offering free Gelato
- Quinua Restaurant (10/10/17): Offering free lunch
- Lagunitas, Tap Room (10/10/17): Giving away free water- bring containers and they will fill them
- The Drawing Board (10/10/17): Offering food delivery to those in need, plus a special menu for firefighters and victims.
FREE WIFI / COMPUTERS:
- Comcast (10/10/17) FREE Internet/Comcast/Xfinity: Removed restrictions and opened their WiFi hotspots for all to use through Fri. 10/13 Log in as “Guest”.
- Copperfield’s Books Petaluma: Free wifi, allows dogs, water, stickers & crayons for children
- Mystic Theatre/McNears/The Roaring Donkey (10/10/17): Offering laptops for fire victims to use if they need to get a hold of their financial institutions or family. Ask for Sierra Bradley.
- Roaring Donkey has laptops set up and wifi and chargers for people, as needed.
FREE HEALTH / WELLNESS:
- Petaluma Swim Center (10/10/17): Offering showers 8:30-10:30 am and 3:00-5:30 pm today. (Soap, Shampoo and Towels provided)
- Synergy Health Club (10/10/17): Offering free showers plus towels to those in need. Also a place to relax with couches and TV.
FREE CLOTHING / ENTERTAINMENT:
- Adventure Recreation – 2200 Petaluma Blvd. N. will be open until 6pm for kids to play out of the smoke. Free for fire victims. Proceeds from others will be donated to relief efforts.
- Petaluma Bowling Alley (10/10/17): Offering a free space to hang out and play games
- Sax’s Joint – 317 Petaluma Blvd. S – Collecting Men’s Basketball shorts and sweats, as well as socks and underwear for both men and women from 6am-4pm Tues. 10:10 to distribute to shelters.
- California Academy of Sciences Free, safe place for families during the day
- Ethical Clothing – 122 Kentucky Street. 707-769-8564. Open Tuesday. The middle room of the store is a free clothing boutique for those in need. For non-evacuees, they will also sell newly donated items for $25 a piece and donate the money to those in need.
- Yoga Hell: Free yoga classes, plus an easy drop-off donation site for locals
PETS / ANIMAL BOARDING:
- Petaluma Animal Shelter (10/10/17) – Snuggle Shuttle @ Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park (707-778-7387) Offering pet food, water, boarding, and lost and found pet information.
- Strong’s Second Chance Ranch (10/10/17): Offering to home horses, can message on Facebook
- Chanslor Ranch – Bodega Bay, Offering free beds and campsite. Kid and pet friendly. (707) 875-2721
- Sonoma Humane Society – 5345 Highway 12 West, Santa Rosa. Taking in animals for boarding, lost & found animals. No cost vet treatment for burn victims, owned or stray animals affected by fires. Open 8-5 daily.
- Unleashed Dog Training for boarding and if you need a place to hang. Call at 707.763.9882
- Marin Humane Society offering free boarding
- Misc animal issues: Anyone encountering animal related issues can call 707-565-4406. This number will be available 24/7 until further notice. Donations can also be made through this line. Please be prepared to share information about the number of animals, type of animals, address and location for the animals, and any information about the families associated with the animals, if known.
