Hundreds of thousands of California residents are fleeing wildfires of unprecedented severity, prompting power outages across the state. CNN reports that 200,000 people in the Bay Area have been displaced and over one million were without power over the weekend.
Families are desperate for food, shelter and survival goods, and several funds have been set up to help them.
Here are a few trustworthy ones.
Ways for locals to help:
If you live near the area and want to volunteer, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Homeowners who live in the area can put their place up on Airbnb, which is providing free housing for those affected by the fires. You can register your home here.
World Central Kitchen at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds is looking for people to help prepare and serve food to evacuees. Sign up here.
Here’s a handy database of more volunteer opportunities, curated by the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County.
Ways for the rest of the world to donate:
The United Way of the Wine Country has set up a Kincade Fire Emergency Relief and Recovery Fund to help “relief and recovery efforts”.
The Latino Community Foundation’s NorCal Wildfire Relief Fund is helping immigrants displaced by the fires. You can donate to their efforts here.
Sonoma County Animal Service is struggling to keep up with the influx of strays and animals left behind by fleeing families. You can donate to help them deal with the extra work here.
The Community Foundation Sonoma County’s ongoing Sonoma County Resilience Fund was founded to help deal with the longterm effects of wildfires, as these become an increasingly regular fact of living in a rapidly warming climate. You can donate to their efforts here.
