How you can help West Coast wildfire relief efforts

As dozens of wildfires blaze along the length of the West Coast, fire has consumed millions of acres and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. Toxic air quality and power outages have combined with the lingering effects of COVID-19, forcing thousands of small businesses to close their doors. Still, many have pivoted yet again to provide support for the communities that they call home. 

Here’s our list of just a fraction of the great local organizations that are working to support their neighbors impacted by the fires. Whether you’re in need of assistance or looking for a place to donate, we hope this list points you in the right direction.

California

• California Fire Foundation (Sacramento) – Donations to this fund provide resources to the Supplying Aid to Victims of Emergency (SAVE) Program. Through the SAVE Program, front line firefighters provide $250 gift cards to victims so they may purchase basic necessities such as food, clothing or medicine.
• Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks (Santa Cruz) – Donations to this fund will work double duty, providing assistance to state park employees who have suffered climate disaster-related losses and working to rebuild parks such as Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Año Nuevo State Park, and Butano State Park.
• Pasadena Humane (Pasadena) – In collaboration with the American Red Cross, Pasadena Humane has set up a processing facility at Santa Anita Park, where temporarily displaced animals can be housed free-of-charge at one of their 11 LA County facilities. 
• San Diego Regional Disaster Fund (San Diego) – The San Diego Foundation has activated the San Diego Regional Disaster Fund to collect and manage charitable funds for recovery and rebuilding from the Valley Fire and other wildfires currently impacting the San Diego region.
• UndocuFund (Graton) –  38,000 undocumented immigrants live in Sonoma County and do not qualify for FEMA assistance. UndocuFund works to close that gap, providing food, shelter, and medical aid to those who may otherwise go without.
• Wildfire Relief Fund (Los Angeles) – The California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund supports both mid-term to long-term recovery efforts for those affected by California wildfires. Since 2003, they have granted more than $24 million to support relief and recovery efforts in the aftermath of devastating wildfires.

Oregon

• Feed the Mass (Portland) – Portland’s only non-profit cooking class, Feed the Mass now serves hundreds of free meals daily, with specific outreach to those impacted by the wildfires.
• The Giving Plate (Bend) – A food bank that distributes food three days a week, they have recently expanded their outreach to serve fire-displaced families in central Oregon.
• Occupy Medical (Springfield) – Operating from multiple locations throughout Springfield and Eugene, Occupy Medical is offering free medical services for wildfire refugees, including wellness checks and prescription refills. 
• Unete Oregon (Medford) – Dedicated to supporting immigrant families and farmworkers, their relief fund has been expanded from its focus on COVID to include those displaced by wildfires.

Washington

• The Hayburner Project (Bellingham) – An equine food bank, The Hayburner Project provides hay, feed, and other basic necessities for equines when their owners are facing temporary hardships. During the wildfires they’ve been working to make sure that displaced animals are fed and receive care.
•  Project Beauty Share (Spokane) – Project Beauty Share provides hygiene and beauty products to marginalized women and their families. In response the wildfires, they are calling for donations of products such as shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and razors, all of which can be purchased through their Amazon Wishlist. 
• United Way of Whitman County (Pullman) – The city of Malden, Washington has been devastated by fires, with 80% of homes and structures destroyed. They have established a dedicated fund that will go to assisting those residents who have been displaced.
• Whisker City Cat Rescue (Shoreline) – A sanctuary and adoption center dedicated to felines, Whisker City has opened their facility to house wildfire-displaced cats.