FRIDAY FIVE
Fire season in the Bay Area has seen the massive Kincade Fire erupt in Sonoma County as well as a handful of separate fires. The Kincade Fire has already burned hundreds of thousands of acres, and as of this writing, it’s still not fully contained. It has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and more than 100 structures have been destroyed. People have lost their homes or have been forced to evacuate. To make matters worse, many have also been without power for multiple days.
The most vulnerable people in our communities have been severely impacted by both the fires and power outages. If you’re lucky enough to be unaffected directly by the disaster or the wildfire smoke, the suffering and loss are likely still taking a toll on your psyche. The good news is that there are plenty of ways for us to help and support those in need during these difficult times.
1. Volunteer with World Central Kitchen
Chef José Andrés seriously deserves the Nobel Peace Prize or the equivalent for all that he and his “first food responder” nonprofit do around the world. The chef and his volunteers have been at the front lines of all the most recent natural disasters—and there have been a lot—around the world, serving good food to those who need a meal in the middle of a crisis. Most recently, the organization announced that it has served 1.5 million meals since Hurricane Dorian.
When the Kincade Fire broke out, World Central Kitchen tweeted that it was looking for volunteers in Northern California. If you’re interested in being part of this impactful volunteer-led effort, sign up for a shift stat at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds grandstands at Gate 2. The Kitchen is always in need of professional chefs, but anyone who even has the slightest experience in a kitchen is welcome.
World Central Kitchen | signup.com
2. UndocuFund
For many undocumented families who have lost their homes in the wildfires during the last two years, UndocuFund is an invaluable resource. In 2017, the organization distributed nearly $6 million to undocumented families who were impacted.
An estimated 38,500 undocumented immigrants live in Sonoma County, but the number of families affected by the Kincade Fire has yet to be determined, as this is still a developing event. However, undocumented families are not able to access federal help, which means they cannot qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) services. So if you don’t have the time to volunteer, this is a great organization that needs your funds to help undocumented neighbors.
UndocuFund | undocufund.org
3. Redwood Empire Food Bank
As evacuation shelters open, many need food for victims and evacuees. If you want to be part of the movement supporting evacuation shelters, we recommend that you donate food to the Redwood Empire Food Bank. As of Tuesday night, the organization itself was under a mandatory evacuation, but according to its website, it has set up barrels in various areas of Sonoma County. Redwood Empire advises that before you head over, you should call to make sure the locations are open and safe. People can volunteer in person by emailing their name and phone number to volunteers@refb.org, and a coordinator will respond with more details. Monetary donations are also gladly welcomed.
Redwood Empire Food Bank | refb.org
4. Pet Rescue & Reunification
As families have been forced to evacuate, pets have been left behind or lost. Locals have sprung into action with the Pet Rescue & Reunification Facebook group, an effort that combines technology with boots on the ground to reunite pets with their owners. The organization deploys field rescue volunteers to feed, monitor cameras, and trap roaming pets. Lost pets are also entered into a database to make it easier for them to be reunited with their owners. If you can’t be on the ground with lost pets, you can still help by entering pets into spreadsheets to match lost and found animals. The organization also has a wish list on Amazon.
Pet Rescue & Reunification | docs.google.com/forms
5. Sonoma Family Meals
This organization has worked with farms and restaurants to serve meals to families affected by wildfires since 2017, and it needs a variety of people with different skills. For now, Sonoma Family Meals is looking for trained chefs (it recommends that they bring their knives if they’re volunteering), helpers in the kitchen, and drivers who can transport meals to evacuation centers, hospitals, and first responders. Volunteers can schedule volunteer shifts according to their availability.
Sonoma Family Meals | signup.com
