How to help Butte County fire victims

Less than 200 miles north and east of most San Mateo County residents, many of those affected by the Camp Fire that ignited Nov. 8 received access to food, clothing and temporary shelters, said Logan Todd, director of communications for the Chico-based North Valley Community Foundation. He said some evacuation centers and shelter have become overrun with clothing and other goods and that he heard some agencies even stopped asking for physical donations because they don’t have the capacity to accept them.

Todd said the response from individuals as far as Canada and the East Coast has been incredible and resulted in more than 21,000 individual contributions to the nonprofit’s main fund. And now that many facilities are at capacity to accept physical donations, organizations like the North Valley Community Foundation are recommending those wishing to help consider financial contributions to agencies assisting victims or contributions like Visa gift cards, which can be used at most stores and businesses.

“I’ve fielded hundreds of calls personally from people wanting to help,” he said. “It’s been amazing.”

Since federal and state resources have been authorized to Camp Fire victims to help with their immediate needs, Todd said the focus for many has been shifting toward how they are going to rebuild their homes and their community after several days of trying to get through each day.

“It feels like it’s been a year of this,” he said. “We’re starting to move from the immediate-need stage … to start thinking about rebuilding.”

Though the Red Cross provided shelters, food services and nurses available to help with medical conditions in the days since the fire broke out, the nonprofit is also starting to prepare for the recovery services it will offer those whose lives have been altered by the Camp Fire, said Red Cross spokeswoman Cynthia Shaw.

Among the services Red Cross case workers are expected to provide in the coming weeks are meeting with individual families to develop a plan for next steps, ensure they have communicated with their insurance companies and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and identifying financial assistance if they don’t qualify for support through other agencies, she said.

Though Shaw said the Red Cross is also recommending financial contributions to those who want to help, she acknowledged that scams are a reality and recommended potential donors verify the organization that is contacting them and use resources on the Better Business Bureau’s website if they have any doubts.

“I think that people should always ensure that this is an unaudited 501(c)3 nonprofit, or if not [ask] do they personally know somebody,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are scams that happen.”

As a hub for donations for wildfire victims in Butte County, the North Valley Community Foundation is working to set up an infrastructure for collecting funds directed toward future recovery efforts, said Todd. Though the nonprofit collected more than $4 million as of Monday, Todd said the sum represents a drop in the bucket when it comes to what’s required to support the community’s long-term recovery, which will require ongoing contributions and support.

Though he acknowledged the response to the community’s disaster has been overwhelming in recent weeks, Todd said he hoped those who have committed themselves to relief and recovery efforts don’t forget about those who are now turning their sights on the months and years of recovery in front of them.

“This was a very small, impoverished community, and the recovery efforts are going to be yearslong,” he said.

Visit nvcf.org/fund/camp-fire-evacuation-relief-fund to donate to the North Valley Community Foundation. Those hoping to contribute to the American Red Cross can visit redcross.org/donate/donation.html to donate. Visit bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/get-consumer-help/northern-california-wildfires for tips on how to avoid disaster relief scams and support victims of the California wildfires.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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