Here's how to support wildfire recovery in Northern California.

15 Ways to Help (or Donate to) Victims of California Wildfires

Updated 10.14.17 at 07:02 AM PST 

The death toll continues to rise, and reports are now saying that at least 31 people have been killed by the California wildfires. Sadly, these Northern California wildfires are now the deadliest in the state’s history.

Unfortunately, the death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue continues in the coming weeks, with hundreds of residents still missing.

That is all devastating to hear, and the fire continues to burn.

A recent report from the Washington Post states that, “As authorities continue assessing the damage from the most devastating spate of wildfires to strike the state in modern history, the blazes are burning mostly uncontained — with winds likely to return this weekend, breathing dangerous new life into the deadly arc of flames.”

It’s time to act and do what we can for the victims of this unimaginable tragedy.

Whether you want to raise money, donate to, or volunteer for the victims of these wildfires, the people of Northern California are going to need your help.

Broken out into 14 “ways to help,” we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of how to help California wildfire victims, where to help, and what’s needed.

Combined within this list, you’ll find 60+ ways to help the victims of the Northern California wildfires.

Here’s how you can help with wildfire recovery in Napa and Sonoma:

  1. Donate to a fund to help 10 truly needy families
  2. Start a crowdfunding campaign.
  3. Volunteer.
  4. Donate to a Fundly Certified fundraising campaign.
  5. Drop off donated items at designated pick-up points.
  6. Get your donations matched.
  7. Support local fire departments.
  8. Give to community nonprofits.
  9. Create a company matching campaign.
  10. Donate to a crowdfunding campaign for a local family, business, or community.
  11. Share this page (it’s free and the average share raises $97)
  12. Donate directly to a family who has lost their house
  13. Help out impacted pets and animals.
  14. Visit fundraising restaurants and stores.
  15. Bonus: Donate right now

We’ll begin with option #1, helping 10 needy families.

1. Donate to a fund to help 10 truly needy families.

The country has really come together to offer an outpouring of love and support for the impacted communities. Millions have been donated to nonprofit organizations in the Napa and Sonoma areas that will help the suffering families and communities recover, which is fantastic.

But for the truly vulnerable families they need an immediate helping hand.

Fortunately there are prominent individuals in the local Napa and Sonoma communities who are aware of the reality on the ground and raising funds to support the most vulnerable. They’re supporting local families who lost their homes and are truly in need of support (low income, single parent, no or limited insurance, 3+ kids, health issues or death etc).

Here’s one such campaign raising funds to support 10 families with a minimum of $2,500 per family.

Sonoma County Fire Help 10 Needy Families

 

These funds will go to families such as Sameth & Larry Broderick and their three boys. Sameth is a technician at Medtronic, Inc. and she lost her home and is in desperate need of support to get her family’s life back in order.

If you’re looking to provide immediate assistance to needy families we encourage you to consider this campaign.

2. Start a crowdfunding campaign.

If you or someone close to you has ever dealt with the aftereffects of a fire, you know it can be extremely costly. The wildfires in Northern California on Sunday night and Monday morning have absolutely ravaged structures in the region.

While the fires are still raging on in Northern California wine country, we know that at least 3,500 structures have been destroyed and almost 20,000 residents have been forced to evacuate.

Northern California is going to need our help to rebuild. Most residents have not even been able to return home yet to see just how much damage has occurred.

Historically, crowdfunding campaigns have proven extremely effective in helping individuals and groups raise a lot of money to help in the aftermath of fires.

For example, a recent campaign has raised over $90,000 so far for relief after the Lodgepole Complex Fire in Montana that occurred this summer.

If you want to raise money for the wildfire relief effort in Santa Rosa and other parts of California, you, too, can start a crowdfunding campaign.

The process is simple:

a. Click here to start your fundraiser for free
b. Set a goal.
c. Write a description and gather photos.
d. Design your campaign page.
e. Launch your campaign.
f. Promote, promote, promote.
g. Collect donations and send money to wildfire relief.

With Fundly, you can sign up on our homepage, follow the instructions, and be up and running in minutes.

Use crowdfunding to help the wildfire relief in Northern California.

Click to start your free fundraiser today.

3. Volunteer with a local nonprofit.

If you don’t have cash to give or you want to go even further, consider volunteering. Here are some of the most helpful resources for individuals located in Northern California:

No matter how you choose to volunteer, what matters is that you do. If you’re able to and in the area, you could be making a huge difference in the lives of your neighbors.

In the aftermath of these destructive fires, you have options for support that go beyond donating.

Register as a Volunteer

4. Donate to a Fundly Certified Fundraising Campaign (RECOMMENDED).

If you’re unable to start your own crowdfunding campaign, you can still help by donating to a campaign that is benefiting the same cause. At Fundly, we even have certified campaigns to donate to if you want to ensure your donation goes to worthy organizations in California. 

Here’s one campaign you can give to that is aimed at supporting local fire departments and regional relief organizations, the “California Relief Fund” —

California Fire Relief Fund

Donate to a Fundly Certified California Fire Fund

You can donate by going to https://fundly.com/california-fire-relief-fund or by using the below button.

5. Drop off donated items at designated pick-up points.

Police and emergency officials are requesting people stay off the roads and keep emergency lines clear. While it can be tempting to drive north to deliver donated items like food, basic toiletries, and water, it’s best if you bring your donated items to a designated pick-up spot. 

Then, you can let the expert transport your donated goods to the struggling regions in a safe and orderly fashion.

Below, you’ll find a listing of the places in and around the region where you can bring donated goods and ensure that they make it to the victims of the wildfires in wine country.

  • Tutto Capelli Salon in San Carlos — You can donate pet supplies, baby supplies, feminine products, phone chargers, and toiletries.
  • Ryse Youth Center in Richmond — They are asking for filters and face masks, diapers (adult and child), and basic toiletries.
  • Del Cielo Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa — The brewing company is hosting an all day drop-off this Sunday (10/15).
  • Jewish Community Center in Berkeley — Staff at the community center are requesting clothing and toiletries (drop-offs are at specific times, so check with the JCC about when you can bring your donated items by).
  • The following businesses in San Francisco are serving as drop-off points for supplies. Keep in mind that the most needed items are non-perishables, phone chargers, air mattresses, yoga mats, shoes, water, cots, pet food, packaged underwear, basic toiletries, and face masks.
    • Mauna Loa
    • Tupelo
    • Hara Club
    • Taverna Aventine
    • The Dubliner
    • The Alembic
    • Liholiho Yacht Club
    • William Sonoma (3250 Van Ness)
    • Fort Point Beer Company
    • Alembic

If you’re already within the region, here are some local spots where you can donate goods and items:

  • Santa Rosa — Veterans Memorial Building and Hall at 1351 Maple Avenue
  • Petaluma — Petaluma Community Center at 320 N. McDowell Boulevard
  • Petaluma — Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds at 175 Fairgrounds Drive
  • Napa — Napa Valley College Gym at 2277 Napa Vallejo Highway
  • Yuba County — Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds Evacuation Center at 422 Franklin Avenue, Yuba City

Please note with all of these pick-up points, times and availability are subject to change. It’s best to do a bit of research and confirm before heading to any specific location.

And as always, if you can, try to donate funds to the nonprofits and community foundations serving the region. That way, the organizations with boots on the ground can purchase the most necessary items and make the most impactful donations possible.

We want to make sure the right donations end up in the right hands.

6. Get your donations to wildfire fundraisers matched.

Did you know that between 15-19 million individuals work for companies with employee matching gift programs? That means for many of you, your donation to a nonprofit can be matched often at a $1 for $1 rate.

We’ve partnered with Double the Donation to make this information about which companies match donations along with forms, guidelines, and instructions available for free as part of our commitment to helping with the Fire Relief Efforts.

You can check to see if your company has a program using the Double the Donation search tool below. Just type in the name of your employer in the search bar.

Make sure to type in your spouse’s company as well and share this page so everyone who’s supporting the fire relief efforts can ensure their donations go as far as possible.

7. Support local fire departments in Napa, Sonoma, and the whole region.

The firefighters doing the dangerous work of putting out these fires truly need our support.

One way to show your support for their efforts is to give to the California Fire Foundation.

The California Fire Foundation provides “programs that support those on the front lines and aid the communities throughout California before, during, and after the alarm.”

They have a program, named SAVE (Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency), through which they are “mobilizing direct assistance to many of those who’ve suffered catastrophic losses from the North Bay Firestorm.”

Through the SAVE program, frontline firefighters are able to provide $100 gift cards to victims of fires who are in immediate need of basic necessities, like toiletries.

The program is only available to officially organized fire departments and districts.

To give to the California Fire Foundation and/or the SAVE program, check out the foundation’s home page here and donate!

The California Fire Foundation will help firefighters and victims of the Santa Rosa Wildfire.

8. Give to community nonprofits working in Northern California.

One of the best things you can do in the wake of any natural disaster is to find local organizations equipped to handle the recovery and support those nonprofits.

You can send your money or donate to the organizations, depending on where you live and what your skill sets are.

As these fires continue to burn in Northern California, many nonprofits are likely to step up to help those affected by this terrible firestorm.

Here are a few steps you can take to help the victims and get involved with community nonprofits:

As the state and the country launch into recovery mode, more and more organizations will begin to join the relief effort. We’ll be adding to this list as more information becomes available.

Raise Money for California Fire Relief
California Fire Donations

9. Get Your Company to Set Up a Fundraising Match Campaign.

If you’re a business owner set up your own fundraising campaign and offer a matching gift. Or, if you work closely with your HR or Community Relations teams, see if they’d be willing to set up a fundraiser with a matching component. Typically we see companies go one of two routes:

  1. Match donations for a disaster at a $1 for $1 or $2 for $1 rate, up to a maximum of some amount
  2. Offer a challenge grant where if employees, clients, or partners donate above a certain threshold, the company matches it.

While the California Fire Relief Efforts are just starting and we expect to see more corporate or small business matching campaigns pop up, here are a few samples from other recent disasters:

Here’s a sample from the recent hurricanes that you can model your company matching campaign off of.Sample Company Matching for Fire Relief

10. Find a different wildfire crowdfunding campaign to support.

To find an existing crowdfunding campaign, check out the disaster relief campaign section on our website.

Search for words related to the wildfire. For instance, you might search for “Northern California Wildfire” or “Santa Rosa Fire” or “Napa Valley wildfires.”

To start, you can browse our category for disaster relief efforts, such as fire recovery. Click the image below to head to Fundly’s disaster relief category.

Find a crowdfunding campaign to contribute to for wildfire relief in California.

With the recent hurricanes, fires, and earthquake in Mexico, there are a ton of worthy families and organizations in need of financial assistance:

Fundly Disaster Relief

If you’re ready to donate, here’s a second certified campaign, this one is actually being run by our Fundly team.

If you’re not aware, Fundly is based in Petaluma, California, an area heavily impacted by the fires. We want to raise money for our neighbors who have lost their homes and businesses in the wildfires.

We’re running a campaign called “Relief Efforts for Massive Sonoma County Fire.” Click the image below to visit the page and donate.

Relief Efforts for Sonoma County Fire

You can donate by going to https://fundly.com/massive-sonoma-county-fire or by clicking on the below button.

11. Share this page on Facebook and Twitter! The average share raises $97.

If you’ve already contributed to a fundraising campaign we encourage you to share what’s going in California and encourage your friends and family to also contribute. You can write your own post or we’ve made it really easy for you to share this page on your own Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Each time someone share a fundraising campaign it’s estimated to generate an additional $97 in donations. Please take a minute or two to share this!

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter


 

12. Donate directly to a family who has lost their house.

In the midst of all the news coverage and larger stories talking about entire towns and regions, it’s easy to forgot the dramatic impact that these wildfires across Napa, Sonoma, and other cities have directly on individual families.

With more than 3,500 homes and buildings destroyed and many more neighborhoods at risk, lives have truly been changed. As this fire rages on, more and more families are going to be left without homes and most of their possessions.

It’s an unbelievably difficult situation, and these fires will, without a doubt, place extreme financial hardships on many of the individuals who live in the region.

At Fundly we’re honored to help many of these families raise money from friends, family, and strangers to help get them started on the long recovery journey.

Below are just a couple fundraisers currently being run on Fundly by individuals in the Northern California region. Take a look and consider giving:



13. Help Out Pets and Animals Impacted by the Wildfires

With the fires still raging on, many families are struggling to care for their animals.

Luckily, lots of organizations and groups have stepped up to the occasion to help out.

Here’s a long list of nonprofits and groups you can donate to and volunteer with to help our four-legged friends recover from these tragic fires.

As you can see, if you’re looking to help animals in the region, there are plenty of ways in which you can do so.

14. Visit fundraising restaurants and stores.

While this won’t be relevant for everyone, if you happen to live in an area near the wildfires, you might be close enough to shop at or eat at a fundraising store or restaurant.

What do we mean by “fundraising store or restaurant?” It’s simple. In most cases, these businesses are agreeing donate a portion of their proceeds to charities working to help California wildfire relief and recovery.

Check out these opportunities:

  • The Bay Grape is accepting donations (both money and goods), and they’re distributing them to relevant organizations and evacuees.
  • New Delhi Restaurant is trying to raise $50,000, and the eatery is hosting a fundraiser to do so on October 28th. The restaurant’s owner has already given $1,000 to the campaign.
  • The Dorian has pledged to donate 50% of all wine sales during their benefit event on the evening of October 12th.
  • Chez Marius is giving 50% of dinner sales to the Red Cross.
  • Le P’tit Laurent is also giving 50% of dinner sales to the Red Cross.
  • Heritage Eats has pledged to donate 10% of all sales to the Napa Valley Community Foundation.
  • Local Food Adventures will be donating 25% of the profits from booked tours and gift cards sold between now and October 15th. The proceeds are going to a Santa Rosa food bank, F.I.S.H
  • The Drawing Board is providing a special menu to firefighters and fire victims indefinitely.
  • The Albertsons Companies grocery stores in Nevada and Northern California are matching donations up to a total of $500,000 (this includes Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, and more). The money will go to disaster-relief organizations.
  • Peet’s Coffee & Tea Shop is letting customers make digital or cash donations at any of its coffee bars through October 22. The funds are going to their North Bay Fire Relief Campaign. Gifts up to $10,00 will be matched by the company.

As with the drop-off locations, these fundraisers are subject to change, so it is important to call ahead and confirm before heading over to one of these restaurants.

But if you’re in the area, this is a great way to raise money for the victims.

15. [Bonus] Want to Provide Help Right Now? Donate to a Certified Fundraising Campaign

We recommend https://fundly.com/california-fire-relief-fund


It is so tough to see what’s occurring in Northern California.

We’re very thankful for the servicemen and servicewomen currently fighting the fires and working to keep everyone safe. These fires continue to spread and burn, and it is hard to know when this disaster will end.

But even after the flames fade, there will still be unimaginable damage to comb through and heal from. It’s important that we give now, and it’s important that we continue to give.

If you can spare the funds and/or the time, use some of the options above and show your support for the communities affected by the Northern California wildfires. 

Raise Money for Any Cause - Start Your Fundly Fundraiser

hurricane-nate-new-orleans-mississippi-louisiana-donations

Donate to Hurricane Nate Relief Efforts in New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Caribbean

How to raise money and fundraise for Hurricane Maria victims.

How to Raise Money and Fundraise For Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts