Even in donating, there’s a right way and a wrong way.
California is suffering the deadliest wildfire in state history, with up to 50 people dead and hundreds more missing. The wildfire, known as the Camp Fire, has scorched 135,000 acres in Northern California’s Butte County, and touched Ventura, Sutter and Los Angeles counties as well. President Donald Trump approved disaster aid for the state, where more than 7,000 structures have burned and another 15,000 are at risk. The fire was 35% contained as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Also see: PG&E stocks and bonds hammered on worry company may be liable for California wildfire
Americans are rushing to donate money, goods and services to help victims. Organizations including the American Red Cross and the Humane Society say victims need cash more than anything else. “We all want to help the victims of the #CampFire, but please don’t send supplies, as the evacuation centers say they have been inundated,” Darrell Steinberg, mayor of Sacramento, tweeted. (Sacramento is 90 miles away from the fires.)
We all want to help the victims of the #CampFire, but please don't send supplies, as the evacuation centers say they have been inundated. Those working on the front lines say giving to the @RedCross or @Habitat_org is the best way to help. https://t.co/MU7dbsLiVX
— Darrell Steinberg (@Mayor_Steinberg) November 12, 2018
Though Good Samaritans may feel the impulse to help people replace the possessions the lost in the fire, cash is actually the most useful type of assistance, charities said. “After a disaster hits, the American Red Cross witnesses the incredible generosity of people from across the country who want to help in any way they can with donations of items like clothes, shoes, food and household items, but the reality is, cash donations are best,” the Red Cross said in a statement.
Officials in California says the victims of the fires would benefit from gift cards to Walmart, WMT, -0.33% Target, TGT, -2.21% gas stations or grocery stores, as well as other stores in the affected areas, including Raley’s, Food Maxx, Grocery Outlet, Rite-Aid, RAD, -1.52% CVS, CVS, -0.73% Walgreens, Dollar General, DG, -1.84% Dollar Tree DLTR, -1.36% and Big Lots BIG, -2.91%
In Southern California, where a different wildfire has ravaged communities, the Humane Society of Ventura County said it was stocked with supplies, but could use more money for the items like pet food. Actress Sandra Bullock donated $100,000 to HSVC, which is caring for cats, dogs, donkeys, pigs, horses, chickens, ducks and other pets affected by the fire. (The organization will care for these animals until the owners can reunite with them, it said.)
The Chico, Calif.-based North Valley Community Foundation, which is supporting evacuation centers near the Camp Fire, said there wasn’t enough storage space for donations of clothing or blankets. “If you have any ability to contribute financially to our fire relief fund, this is the time,” Alexa Benson-Valavanis, president and chief executive officer of NVCF, said in a statement.
Butte County is still accepting tangible items, but ask that they be new, said Holli Drobny, a member of the county’s public information office. Drobny also said the county asks that donors separate clothes by gender and size so they can be distributed faster to people who need them. Still, cash and Visa V, -0.05% gift cards are most helpful, she said.
“Our community has definitely pulled through to provide for evacuees, but it was taking too much time to get more organized and see what’s feasible for people to actually utilize,” she said.
Also see: California wildfire frequency could surge 50% by 2050, report finds
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