Smith: Some easy ways to get essential items to fire survivors in Paradise

Many of us need not imagine what fire survivors in Paradise are suffering, we know. And we’re eager to help get them what they need.

If you’re interested in donating, firefighters are collecting items and will deliver them to the Butte County fire zone.

They invite us to drop off donations from noon to 3 p.m. today; from 3-7 p.m. Friday; and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Go either to the Rincon Valley fire station at 45 Lark Center Drive in Larkfield or the Windsor fire station at 8200 Old Redwood Highway.

What to take? Gift cards and basics: absolutely any of the things you use in the bathroom, and diapers, pain relievers, antibiotic cream, socks, underwear, sleeping bags, laundry supplies, head lamps, trash bags and reading glasses. Imagine what you’d need if you woke up today having fled your home with little or nothing.

Also, the Sonoma County Farm Bureau is collecting books for Paradise’s children. Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 14, books can be dropped at 3589 Westwind Blvd. in Santa Rosa.

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DANCE TO STOP SUICIDE: There surely will be tears. But people who’ve lost loved ones to suicide will share joy, too, at a musical celebration of life Saturday night that’s open to all.

The suicide prevention benefit starts at 6 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Odd Fellows Hall. Domenic Bianco and the SoulShake will play, and a barbecue dinner will be served by Sebastopol’s A Guy and His Grill.

Tickets are at the door and at sroddfellowshall.com.

Rebekah Schmitt will speak. Her daughter was Sage Casey Schmitt, a 14-year-old from Sebastopol who died by suicide in 2017. Joining her will be county supervisor Shirlee Zane, whose husband, Peter Kingston, took his life in 2011.

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IF YOU’RE ITALIAN, or Jewish, or a lover of World War II history, or you just like a great story, you might check out the special event Sunday afternoon at Piner High School.

Mike Lella will be there to talk about “Beneath a Scarlet Sky.” It’s the hot-selling book based on the life of an Italian teen who during World War II helped Jewish people escape Italy and joined Hitler’s army to become a spy for the Allies.

That heroic teen was Pino Lella, father of the man who’ll speak at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets to the event, a benefit for assistance to Santa Rosans who lost homes to the 2017 fires, are available at santarosateamphoenix.org and at the door.

I’ll be there as emcee.

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THERE’S JUST ONE Wes Winter. Too bad!

We could use several more of this guy. Wes has run several human services nonprofits and now heads the Family Justice Center of Sonoma County.

He needed a clone of himself the other day. He was invited to two separate events honoring the Family Justice Center, a one-stop godsend to victims of family violence.

Wes went to the Community Child Care Council to receive its Heart of a Champion award. He looked to crime victims advocate Michelle Carstensen to attend, at the same time, the Day of Nonviolence luncheon by M.O.V.E.S., Minimizing Occurrences of Violence in Everyday Society, and accept its Bob Tunks Peace Award.

M.O.V.E.S. bestowed its peace award also on YWCA Sonoma County for its work to prevent domestic violence.

You can reach Columnist Chris Smith at 707-521-5211 or chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.