How to help: Volunteer, donate food, supplies, money to support Sonoma County fire victims
Register Yourself as “Safe and Well”, or search for loved ones at safeandwell.org.
VOLUNTEER
The Red Cross is in immediate need of volunteers to assist fire evacuees. To volunteer, sign up online and you'll be contacted in the near future regarding donation and volunteer needs. You can also contact the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County at info@volunteernow.org or call: 707-573-3399.
The Sonoma County Volunteer Center has partnered with the Emergency Office of Communications, Shelters, and Red Cross to streamline volunteer services. For information and support, dial 2-1-1 or 707-565-2108 or 800-325-9604. The call center is operating 24/7. To volunteer, email info@volunteernow.org - include your full name, phone number, email address and applicable skills (including medical skills, commercial food kitchen, bilingual).
The Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership has also been called in to help. If you wish to donate or volunteer, you can register on their website.
Grief and Crisis Counselors: Trained counselors are needed at Sonoma Valley High School. If you are licensed and able to help, call (707) 888-5863.
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DONATE
The Press Democrat has again partnered with Redwood Credit Union, Senator Mike McGuire and numerous business leaders to raise funds to directly help fire victims. We have lost hundreds of homes, dozens of businesses along with thousands of jobs. Every donated dollar will go directly to fire victims – all costs will be covered. To donate, click here.
The Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB) in Santa Rosa needs financial support to respond to the disaster. You can make a donation online or call 707-523-7900. To volunteer, please use the volunteer sign up at refb.org - you will find all available shifts here and can register for any open shift (please DO NOT just show up, register first). REFB is accepting (ready-to-eat, non-perishable) food donations at 3990 Brickway Boulevard in Santa Rosa. Preferred food items include: granola bars, snack packs, fruit cups, beef jerky, canned goods with pop-top lids, peanut butter, jelly, nuts, crackers, bottled water and other healthy drinks. No glass containers. In addition to the food listed above, the REFB is actively buying truckloads of food that the shelters and evacuation centers are requesting. REFB is offering a special drive-through distribution providing FREE food. No identification is required. Open to anyone in need of food assistance at the Redwood Empire Food Bank station house at 3990 Brickway Boulevard in Santa Rosa. This distribution will be offered Monday, October 16th through Saturday, October 21th, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm in the REFB's front parking area. On Saturday, October 21st, the REFB will host their monthly Food Plaza distribution, which is also in the front parking area, and also open to anyone who needs help.
Sonoma County Office of Education will be coordinating funds for schools and students that have lost everything. Make a payment to a school district of your choice here.
United Way of the Wine Country has created a relief fund to help those affected by the devastating fires. Make a donation here.
The Salvation Army has deployed multiple teams to provide meal services at evacuation centers. Monetary donations are needed at this time. 100% of your gift will be used in support of the relief efforts. Donate here.
Cash donations are preferred and accepted at evacuation centers across Sonoma County. For a full list of evacuation centers, click here. Please call and check in advance if supply and food donations are still needed.
The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund is collecting cash donations here.
You can access a centralized hub of GoFundMe campaigns for North Bay fire victims here.
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Food Donations:
Food donations need to be packaged. No homemade food can be accepted.
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
California Association of Food Banks, various locations, cafoodbanks.org/find-food-bank
Sonoma Family Meal connects local chefs with those in need of food, and offers free meals ready for pickup. More information here: facebook.com/pg/sonomafamilymeal
Santa Rosa homeless shelters are in critical need of food. St. Vincent de Paul is accepting donations of unprepared foods at its 610 Wilson Street location, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. The food will be distributed to shelters throughout the city.
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Donate to the Humane Societies and SPCA:
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
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