How to Help Kincade Fire Victims and Evacuees: Volunteer and Donate

Here's how you can help those affected by the fire.


Latest update: Nov. 5, 2019, 3:00 p.m. 

If you would like to help those affected by the Kincade fire, mandatory evacuations and PG&E power shutoffs, here’s how you can volunteer and make donations. Please note that needs will change in the days and weeks to come. Please check back for updates.

Do you know of a volunteer opportunity or fundraising initiative not listed here? Send an email to sofia.englund@pressdemocrat.com.


DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERING


The Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB)

The Redwood Empire Food Bank has deployed its emergency response program, Station 3990. These distributions are open to anyone in need of food. Find food distribution sites here.

Donate food: The Redwood Empire Food Bank is currently accepting food donations at their main facility at 3990 Brickway Blvd in Santa Rosa. They also have donation sites throughout Sonoma County, listed here.

Guidelines for food donations: No glass. No perishable items. No open items. No homemade items.

Most needed items include:
• Tuna and Canned Meat
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Soups, Stews, and Chili
• Rice and Dry Beans
• Cereal
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables
• High Protein Granola Bars
• Trail Mix or Nuts

To volunteer with the REFB — includes helping out in the kitchen and with food distribution — sign up for a shift here.

Make a financial donation here.


Sonoma Family Meal

Founded by SMI dining editor Heather Irwin, Sonoma Family Meal has served more than 200,000 meals to fire survivors since 2017. The nonprofit is also an emergency disaster response kitchen and is now serving Kincade fire victims and evacuees.

Make a financial donation here.


World Central Kitchen (WCK)

The World Central Kitchen’s “Chef Relief Team” provides meals to those in need in disaster areas. WCK will continue to provide meals to first responders, and expect to remain in Sonoma County through early next week. More information here.

Those interested in volunteering should register on wck.org. (Click on the link at the top of the homepage to sign up for a shift.)


Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) and The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County (VCSC)

The Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) and The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County (VCSC) coordinate volunteer efforts during a disaster.

To volunteer during this disaster and for long-term recovery efforts, register online at cvnl.org/volunteer-marin. Once registered, individuals will be deployed or contacted directly if and when they are needed for this disaster and for future events.

To make a financial donation, visit cvnl.org/donate (under “additional information,” make sure to select “disaster-related work”). Donations will be distributed directly to local charities supporting evacuees in Sonoma, Marin, and Napa counties. Gift cards can also be delivered to CVNL + VCSC office locations. The organizations kindly ask that people refrain from donating goods/items to their Emergency Volunteer Centers at this time.

Find more information about CVNL + VCSC wildfire relief work here.


Petaluma Peoples Services Center

Petaluma Peoples Services Center is a collection of human services programs. The nonprofit is now serving Kincade fire victims.  

Those interested in making a donation serving Kincade fire victims can do this online at petalumapeople.org/donate and the organization will make “targeted purchases.”

You can also bring a check made out to the Petaluma People Services Center or items from this list to Kenilworth Teen Center, 150 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma. 

Those wanting to volunteer with the Petaluma Peoples Services Center can fill out an online application here: tinyurl.com/PPSC-volunteer.


The Jewish Community Free Clinic

The Jewish Community Free Clinic in Santa Rosa offers completely free medical and mental health services. There are no eligibility requirements. Visit the clinic’s website for more information about services.

To volunteer at the Jewish Community Free Clinic, download and complete an application form. The clinic utilizes volunteers for medical receptionists, medical providers, nurses, interpreters, therapists, social service support, and acupuncturists. They also have special project volunteers and research internships.

To make a financial donation to the clinic, you can donate online, join a giving tree, sponsor an event or send a check to Jewish Community Free Clinic 50 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.


COTS

COTS welcomes evacuees to visit their Mary Isaak Center (900 Hopper Street, Petaluma) for showers, laundry, meals and phone charging. All services are free. More information here.

The nonprofit is currently seeking the following donations for fire evacuees:

• Towels and wash cloths
• Shampoo, body wash
• Bedding/sleeping bags
• Laundry detergent
• Toilet paper
• N95 masks

Volunteer: Regular COTS volunteers are encouraged to help coordinate laundry and showers. Get in touch with the front desk: 707-765-6530 x120.


FINANCIAL DONATIONS


Community Foundation of Sonoma County

The Community Foundation of Sonoma County’s ongoing Resilience Fund continues to accept donations to support the mid- and long-term recovery needs of individuals and families, with particular focus on helping individuals impacted by the fires, healing the long-term effects of trauma, and addressing housing solutions within the county. Make a donation here.


Latino Community Foundation

The Latino Community Foundation has reactivated its NorCal Wildfire Relief Fund in response to the Kincade fire. The fund supports nonprofits that include Corazon Healdsburg and Nuestra Comunidad, which are providing essential sheltering and supportive services to Latino immigrants and farmworkers impacted by the fire. Make a donation here.


Rebuild NorthBay Foundation

Rebuild NorthBay Foundation (RNBF) is committed to the long-term rebuilding of Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties in the wake of wildfires. The foundation was founded by Darius Anderson, CEO of Kenwood Investments and managing partner in Sonoma Media Investments, which owns Sonoma Magazine. According to the RNBF, all donations to Kincade fire survivors and evacuees will go directly toward fire relief without any administration fee taken out by the foundation. Make a donation here. (Put “KINCADE” in the memo.)


Russian River Alliance

The nonprofit Russian River Alliance is seeking donations to help fund small emergency cash grants to help cover lost wages and evacuation costs for people who live and work in the area between Forestville and Cazadero, including Occidental, and earn $15 an hour or less.

Organizer Jennifer Wertz notes that workers were displaced just as rents were coming due on the first of the month and residents who lost power already were facing unexpected grocery bills. Grants of up to $300 may be available beginning Monday, November 4, to qualified applicants, who must work at least 20 hours a week.

The effort is part of an ongoing workforce fund started as a homeless prevention effort that morphed to accommodate recovery needs in the wake of the February 2019 floods.
Donations may be made online at russianriveralliance.org/Donate.html.


The Red Cross

To make a financial donation to victims of the Kincade fire, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-733-2767, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also send a check to American Red Cross, 5297 Aero Dr, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. The check should be made out to “American Red Cross” with “Kincade fire” noted on the check.

Find more information about The Red Cross’s wildfire response here and here.


The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is serving three meals a day at five evacuation centers in Napa, San Rafael and Petaluma. 100 percent of donations will go toward Kincade fire relief efforts as the Salvation Army feeds and cares for evacuees and first responders. Make a donation here.


UndocuFund

The UndocuFund for Fire Relief in Sonoma County, managed by Graton Day Labor Center, North Bay Organizing Project, and North Bay Jobs with Justice, is currently raising funds to assist the victims of the Kincade fire. This fund is providing direct funding to undocumented immigrants and their families in Sonoma County to help with fire-related expenses. Make a donation here. Find more information about how to support undocumented victims of the Kincade fire here


United Way of the Wine Country

United Way has opened the Kincade Fire Emergency Relief & Recovery Fund to help in the relief and recovery efforts post fire. Make a donation here.


Animal Shelters

Several North Bay animal shelters are accepting donations for pets displaced by the Kincade fire. The Humane Society of Sonoma County and Sonoma County Animal Services closed due to mandatory evacuation orders and remain closed due to the power shutoff — check their websites for more information.

To make a monetary donation or to volunteer, visit the animal shelter’s website:

Humane Society of Sonoma County
Sonoma County Animal Services
Sonoma Community Animal Response Team
The Marin Humane Society

Some of the shelters are also looking for supplies — more information and Amazon wish lists are available on their websites.

Report found pets or search for lost ones through the County of Sonoma database. To locate a lost pet, you can also consult this Facebook page.


Do you know of any additional ways to support fire victims? Let us know in the comments. 

Information about fire relief funds provided by Northern California Grantmakers, ncg.org.

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