How to Help Victims of the Camp Fire in California

Donating Money

Give to crowdfunding campaigns to help specific people or groups. Crowdfunding websites let victims, families, and communities create their own pages to tell their story and raise money for recovery. You can read through different pages and donate to campaigns that move you, or make contributions to more general funds. GoFundMe has listed all of the Camp Fire campaigns, both those created by bigger organizations and by individuals and families. You can also explore the site on your own to find other campaigns. You can also search on other sites, like Fundly.

Use Facebook or Google to quickly make a contribution. You can use major sites like Google and social media pages, like Facebook, to make donations as well. Google “help camp fire victims” or go to Facebook’s Camp Fire Crisis Response page and click the “donate” button to donate. Go to Facebook’s Camp Fire Crisis Response page at https://www.facebook.com/crisisresponse/the-camp-fire-2018/support/. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross. Funds raised from Google’s donation button go to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which will distribute the donations to nonprofits working in the Butte County region.

Donate to general aid organizations to get money to the people and places who need it most. Multiple large aid organizations are working in Butte County to help Camp Fire victims. By donating to one or multiple of them, you can ensure that your funds will be put to good use. Consider giving to one of the following organizations, or find others in your local newspaper or TV broadcasts. Consider donating to: Direct Relief, which is providing supplies to relief workers and healthcare responders. Caring Choices, which is donating funds to victims and others in need. The Del Oro division of the Salvation Army, which is providing social services, disaster response, and essential items. United Way of Northern California Relief Fund, by texting BUTTEFIRE to 91999 or going online. The North Valley Community Foundation, in Chico, giving support to evacuation centers. The Enloe Medical Center in Chico, which is helping caregivers, patients, and families.

Give to victims’ funds at local banks. Several local Northern California bank divisions have started relief funds to help victims of the fire. The funds are structured differently for different banks, so make sure to review each one to see exactly how your money will be distributed. Consider giving to: The Camp Fire Fund 2018 account at Tri Counties Bank, which is based in Chico, California. You can learn more and donate at https://www.tcbk.com/fire-update. The Golden Valley Bank, which is accepting general contributions for Camp Fire relief through their website at https://www.goldenvalley.bank/.

Check each organization before you donate to avoid charity scams. Do a little research and only donate to a charity with a proven track record of success, verified by outside news sources. You should also make sure that the organization you’re giving to is a registered public 501(c)(3). You can also run the charity’s name through Charity Navigator, which ranks charities based on their transparency, accountability, and financial health. The closer the charity’s grade to 100, the better. Go to https://www.charitynavigator.org/ to check a charity on the site.

Giving Items in Need

Check with organizations to see what items are needed. Organizations in the affected areas have already received large amounts of material donations, so most are asking for only monetary contributions at this time. You can continue to check organizations’ social media pages to see if they’ll be accepting donations in the future and what items are most in need. You can also call them to get the most up-to-date information.

Give animal food and supplies to local animal aid groups. Some animal aid organizations are still collecting food and other items, although you should call first to double check. Bring your donations to the Butte Humane Society in Chico or the North Valley Animal Disaster Group in Oroville.Tip: Animal shelters are most in need of food, bowls, collars, leashes, and crates. You can also make monetary donations by phone or on their websites.

Send gift cards to The Hope Center. The Oroville Hope Center is a local poverty relief organization that’s now receiving donations for the Camp Fire Emergency Response Program. They are asking for mostly monetary donations, but you can make a more material contribution by sending in gift cards to local stores and supermarkets. The Hope Center is accepting gift cards by drop-off and mail. You can also check their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/campfiredonationhub to see if they’ll need other kinds of donations. Mail gift cards or drop them off at: Oroville Hope Center1950 Kitrick Ave AOroville, CA 95966

Volunteering Your Time

Volunteer with The Hope Center to sort and organize donations. Material donations have flooded local non-profit aid organization like the Hope Center, and many are asking for volunteers to help sort through them all. Call them for more details and directions on getting to their site in Oroville. You can call the Hope Center’s hotline at 1-833-OROHOPE.

Apply online to volunteer with Caring Choices. The aid organization Caring Choices is currently accepting volunteer applications from California state employees and licensed medical personnel, like emergency responders. If you qualify, apply online. You’ll receive a call if your help is needed. You can fill out the application at http://nebula.wsimg.com/a5271ed1d42a33d5c052f64844f9fd79?AccessKeyId=6EB4945303226314F528&disposition=0&alloworigin=1.

Volunteer your services through the Paradise Fire Adopt a Family Facebook group. Started by a Northern California couple, this Facebook group aims to connect evacuees and volunteers directly. After you join the group, write a post describing the help you can offer, whether it’s opening your home to victims, volunteering services, or donating and delivering goods. You can join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/paradisefireadoptafamily/members/. You can also donate money through the group.

Open your house to victims with the Airbnb Evacuee Program. Also called Open Homes, this campaign from Airbnb lets local residents host displaced victims and deployed relief workers. If you’re in the area and willing to open your home, you’ll first make an Airbnb account, then sign it up to join the program. People in need can then send requests to stay in your home.Find out more about the Open Homes program and sign up to host at on the Airbnb website.