In rapid response to the devastating Tubbs, Nuns and Pocket fires, organizations throughout the county are rounding up resources to host fundraisers to benefit families that lost homes and businesses last week.
According to Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, the total damage in unincorporated Sonoma County and the City of Santa Rosa could reach $3 billion.
“Our preliminary damage assessment has revealed 3,819 unincorporated parcels with assumed 100 percent structural loss,” Hopkins said. “This represents a $2,016,962,239 loss in unincorporated Sonoma County. Sadly, we anticipate that this total will grow. When you add these numbers to the losses reported by the City of Santa Rosa, we exceed $3B in total countywide loss.”
A busy week of fundraising
By the tail end of last week, many events, such as open houses, parties and concerts, morphed into benefits while new fundraisers popped up.
Last Thursday, the Sebastopol Grange raised more than $60,000 during a benefit in The Barlow. The event included auctions, music and donation buckets.
“It’s only a drop in the bucket of what will really be needed,” said Evan Wiig, executive director of the Farmers’ Guild. “But it’s one effort of many.”
The Sebastopol Builders’ Studio quickly changed its scheduled open house into a fundraiser, complete with Rapunzel. Captain America, a taco truck and donation buckets. The organization’s goal was to raise $20,000 for the Redwood Credit Union Fire Relief Fund.
Adding to that fund was U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, whose Saturday benefit raised $50,000. The Generosity of the North Bay event collected $35,362 and another $13,005 in gift cards for Mendocino and Sonoma County individuals and families that lost their homes or whose homes have sustained extreme fire damage.
More benefits scheduled
Pop-up store for fire victims at the Barlow
This Friday, Oct. 20, the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce and The Barlow will host a free pop-up store from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for displaced fire victims and evacuees to pick up free, high-quality work clothing, toiletries, bedding, children’s clothing, toys and food.
It will be at 180 McKinley Street, Suite #140, near Crooked Goat Brewing and Vignette Pizzeria in the heart of The Barlow.
Available items include: gently used, high-quality, clothing for men and women, toiletries, new bedding, camping equipment, luggage and bags, diapers, strollers, car seats, toys and children’s clothing, pet supplies and non-perishable food provided by the Redwood Empire Food Bank
“We all have friends or loved ones in need, many of whom who are returning to work despite having lost everything” said Jill McLewis, Executive Director of Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce.
Alexander Valley Film Festival
The third annual Alexander Valley Film Festival quickly changed course Monday morning to become a fundraiser event.
“With the help of my board and a few intrepid core folks, I orchestrated a massive pivot of the film festival into a fundraiser relief,” Kathryn Hecht, the executive director of the Alexander Valley Film Society wrote on Facebook.
All funds raised during the event, which runs Oct. 19-22, will support the Community Foundation of Sonoma County’s Resilience Fund. To provide all members of the community with an opportunity for respite and connection, all film screenings will offer a “pay what you can” option that can be reserved in advance through the ticketing site, with all proceeds from the weekend going directly to fire relief and recovery.
“As our community continues to struggle with this crisis, we believe that coming together to connect, and to be inspired and entertained, can be vital to the healing process,” Hecht said in a press release.
Peacetown Fire Benefit
That’s the spirit behind Sebastopol’s Jim Corbett’s Peacetown Fire Benefit. Corbett, aka Mr. Music, is hosting a community gathering event with live music, food, drink and an auction at Ives Park in Sebastopol on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 2 to 10 p.m. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Pinot on the River
In Healdsburg, the Pinot on the River event, slated for Sunday, Oct. 22 in the Healdsburg Plaza from 12 to 4 p.m., has offered to dedicate a portion of its proceeds to families in the Boys & Girls Club that have been affected by the fires.
Bobby Jo Valentine fire benefit concert
Despite losing everything but one guitar in the recent fires, singer/songwriter Bobby Jo Valentine will be keeping his upcoming concert dates. In fact, it was his idea for the October 27 concert at the United Church of Cloverdale to be local fund-raiser to benefit people impacted by the recent wildfires, and to bring the wider community together through music.
Ongoing fundraising efforts underway
Bear Republic Brewing Company, Russian River Brewing, St. Florian’s and King Ridge Foundation are working on Sonoma Pride brews. Proceeds from sales of the beers will support the victims and firefighters of the 2017 wildfires. For more information, visit bearrepublic.com/bear-republic-fundraising-sonoma-county-fire-victims. Proceeds from sales of the beers will support the victims and firefighters of the 2017 wildfires. For more information, visit bearrepublic.com/bear-republic-fundraising-sonoma-county-fire-victims.
Find these fundraisers and other events on the calendar pages
Healdsburg Calendar: http://www.sonomawest.com/the_healdsburg_tribune/calendar/
SonomaWest calendar: http://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/calendar/
Windsor Times calendar: http://www.sonomawest.com/the_windsor_times/calendar/
Cloverdale Reveille calendar: http://www.sonomawest.com/cloverdale_reveille/calendar/
Events can be submitted online, as well.
