Responding to California Wildfires

The Kincade Fire broke out on the evening of Wednesday, October 23, 2019, in rural Sonoma County, California. Since then, the fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate in the county while Governor  Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency. To date (as of Monday, October 28, 2019), over 200,000 people are displaced from their homes and nearly 1 million are without power.

Donations from the public are needed to help offset the cost of the extraordinary response services that are required during – and following – these emergencies.

A number of community foundations in the path of the fire have already established immediate and long-term recovery funds to help those who are affected in their communities, including:

• Community Foundation of Sonoma County: The Community Foundation of Sonoma County’s ongoing Resilience Fundcontinues to accept donations to support the mid- and long-term recovery needs of individuals and families, with particular focus on helping the needs of individuals, healing the effects of long-term trauma, and addressing housing solutions within the county.
• Latino Community Foundation:The Latino Community Foundation’s NorCal Wildfire Wildfire Relief Fund has been activated. The fund supports nonprofits that include Corazon Healdsburg and Nuestra Comunidad , which are providing essential sheltering and supportive services to Latino immigrants and farm workers impacted by the fire.
• Solano Community Foundation: The Solano Disaster Relief Fund is focusing on helping those organizations who are working to provide relief and recovery services to Solano County and Napa County residents, specifically for medical care, counseling, temporary shelter and meals to the individuals and families affected by the October Fires.

For more resources or for more direction on where to direct your funding, click here.

Like you, our thoughts are with those whose lives are affected by the wildfires. We are always heartened by the St. Louis region’s response to crises, both local and national, and as ever, we appreciate your generosity.

St. Louis Community Foundation Fund Holders: You can make a grant from your fund for response and relief efforts using DonorCentral or by contacting Josina Greene, Donor Relations & Services Manager, at 314-880-4955 or Wendy Witte, Donor Relations & Services Manager, at 314-880-4962.