Napa Valley Community Foundation has developed a list of non-profits, But be wary.
Supporting Valley Fire Relief Efforts
The Valley Fire continues to cause widespread devastation and hardship for victims and evacuees. The latest reports indicate that the 67,000-acre blaze is 15 percent contained, and has destroyed 585 homes and hundreds of other structures. It also is being reported that 20,000-23,000 people have been displaced.
Several hundred community members, businesses and service club members have been providing relief to those seeking shelter and assistance at the Calistoga Fairgrounds–and we applaud them for their compassion and generosity.
We’ve also heard from many of you, looking for ways to lend financial support.
Things can change quickly at this stage of disaster relief, and we will continue to learn more in the coming days.
In the meantime, here is an alphabetical list of some nonprofits that are helping victims and evacuees take refuge at the Calistoga shelter. Many are working in coordination with Napa County government agencies. Some also are providing services in Lake County, and we’ve indicated that in the descriptions below.
You can click on the hyperlinks below to make a donation directly. If you’d like to recommend a grant distribution from your Donor Advised Fund, you can log on to your DonorCentral account from our website, or you can email your grant recommendation to Ellen Drayton at [email protected], or fax us at 707.254.7955.
American Red Cross of the California Northwest chapter is providing emergency relief services, such as food, a safe place to sleep, showers and clothing distribution, out of its shelter on the Calistoga Fairgrounds (it also is running a shelter in Kelseyville). [Please note that you can restrict your donation to the Northwest Chapter Disaster Relief to support all relief work in the six-county area covered by the chapter, but the chapter cannot honor donations restricted specifically to the Valley Fire.] Also please note that for each dollar you donate, only 8 cents may get to victims of this tragedy.
Note: There is no indication of "CASH VOUCHERS" from ARC.
Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga has opened its Calistoga Clubhouse and its Calistoga Teen Center to Valley Fire victims and evacuees, and is providing snacks and supervised age-appropriate activities free of charge.
Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership has set up an emergency volunteer center at the Calistoga Fairgrounds, and is managing volunteers and in-kind donations to assist victims and evacuees.
Community Action of Napa Valley Food Bank program is providing foodstuffs that are distributed by nonprofit partners at the Fairgrounds, and out of its Calistoga food pantry site.
Community Connection Network (CCN) is providing crisis counseling services to victims and evacuees of all ages at the Fairgrounds. CCN is run by two nonprofits, Progress Foundation and Family Service of Napa Valley.
Healthy Minds Healthy Aging program, which is run by Family Service of Napa Valley, is providing counseling services to victims and evacuees of all ages at the Fairgrounds.
Napa County Fair Association is the nonprofit that has been housing evacuees at its fairgrounds in Calistoga.
Ole Health (formerly known as Community Health Clinic Olé) nurses and doctors are providing medical care at the Fairgrounds, and out of its clinic site in Calistoga.
Queen of the Valley and St. Helena hospitals are both providing medical care at the Fairgrounds.
Salvation Army Napa Corps was a first responder providing food to victims in the early stages of the relief effort, and due to an outpouring of food provision from local businesses and the CIA, is focusing its work at the Lake County shelters. Its Napa team of staff and volunteers will return to Calistoga as they are needed.
Sunrise Horse Rescue is housing evacuated horses and goats at its property in St. Helena, as well as sending a team of volunteers to monitor the evacuated areas and provide food and water to animals left behind, and to bring any injured animals found to veterinary care.
Up Valley Family Centers (UVFC) is providing support to victims and evacuees and connecting them to a range of services and medical care. UVFC also working with the Red Cross to offer child-friendly activities for younger kids at the play area in the shelter at the Fairgrounds.
Please note that the above list includes just a few nonprofits that are providing services within Lake County, and there are many others. Although we don’t have a comprehensive view of charitable efforts underway on the ground there, we do understand that Catholic Charities out of Santa Rosa and United Way of the Wine Country have both established special relief funds to assist victims and evacuees in Lake County with immediate needs like food and longer term needs like housing
FUNDING for recovery and rebuilding-Disaster Assistance.gov
President Barack Obama declared a major disaster covering the fire area in Lake, Sonoma and Napa counties. The declaration triggers the release of federal money for recovery and cleanup, including grant money for temporary housing and home repairs.
State Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, said the funding will help with recovery and rebuilding as part of a local, state and federal effort to “ensure Lake County comes back stronger than ever and thrives.”
Residents affected by the fire may register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, via smartphone at m.fema.gov or by calling 800-621-3362.
