You've seen the horrific images, you have friends and loved ones and favorite haunts up north.
And as of Monday morning, Wine Country is in a state of emergency as more than a dozen wildfires are consuming large swaths of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Yuba counties. It's a time for thoughts and prayers, yes, but more importantly for action: Here's how to help the victims of this Bay Area tragedy.
*We will be updating this article throughout the week as we learn more about ongoing relief and recovery efforts. If you have a tip for how we can help those in need, email info@privateclubmarketing.com with the subject line Help for Wine Country.
Bring Crucial Supplies & Volunteer at Shelters
To accommodate the estimated 20,000 evacuees, a number of local landmarks have opened their doors to the growing influx of escapees. Below is a list of shelters, organizations, schools, and businesses we've found that are currently operating as safe spaces; they need able-and-willing volunteers and donations of essential supplies.
- Veterans Memorial Building and Hall, 1351 Maple Ave. (Santa Rosa), sonomacountry.ca.gov
- Petaluma Community Center, 320 N. McDowell Blvd. (Petaluma), cityofpetaluma.net
- Sonoma County Fairgrounds (open for large- and medium-sized livestock and farm animals), access via Gate 7 on Aston Ave. (Sonoma), sonomacountyfiar.com
- Ramekins Culinary School and Inn, 450 W. Spain St. (Sonoma), remekins.com
- Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds (open to accommodate small livestock and other farm animals, access via Gate 4 on 175 Fairgrounds Dr (Petaluma), sonoma-maringfair.org
- Crosswalk Church (currently at-capacity and in need of aid), 2590 1st St. (Napa), crosswalknapa.org
- Napa Valley College Gym, 2277 Napa Vallejo Hwy. (Napa), napavalley.edu
Update: Marin County has opened a temporary shelter for evacuees. Donations needed include clothes for older children and adults, blankets, new pillows, new underwear for all ages, packaged prepared food, baby formula. Drop off behind exhibit hall;10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael.
Marin shelter: 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA
Donate to the Bay Area Red Cross and Local Food Banks
In the ensuing days, the Bay Area's Red Cross affiliates will be busy lending their might to ongoing relief efforts for the affected counties. Donations of any kind—be it large or small, monetary or otherwise—will be greatly appreciated; blood drives, too, are likely to be scheduled, so we'll keep you updated; redcross.org
The Red Cross has exhausted its volunteer networks in the Bay Area and is currently seeking additional volunteers, according to the City of Santa Rosa Facebook page. Those willing to help with check-in and supply distribution are encouraged to call (707-543-4542) or go in person to Elsie Allen High School (599 Bellevue Ave, Santa Rosa) or Cook Middle School (2480 Sebastopol Rd., Santa Rosa).
Purge your pantry for the cause:
- Food pantries of Sonoma County, various locations, sonoma.networkofcare.org
- Food pantries of Napa County, various locations, foodpantries.org
- Food pantries of Yuba County, various locations, sutter.networkofcare.org
Donate to the Humane Societies and SPCA
Natural disasters of this magnitude affect more than human lives. Donate your time—and extra bags of dog and cat food—to the North Bay branches of the Human Society and SPCA as they go about the tough work of accommodating new shelter animals.
- Humane Society of Sonoma County, 5345 CA-12. (Santa Rosa), sonomahumane.org
- Humane Society of Napa County, 3265 California Blvd. (Napa), napahumane.org
- Yuba-Sutter SPCA, 745 Sutter St. (Yuba), yubasutterspca.org
Lend a Hand (or Home-Cooked Meal) to the Fire Stations
Countless men and woman serving on the front lines are in need of sustenance and miscellaneous supplies. Be sure to call the appropriate non-emergency numbers to get a grasp on what they may need.
- Fire Departments of Sonoma County, sonomacountry.org
- Fire Department of Napa County, countyofnapa.org
- Fire Departments of Yuba County, yubacity.org
