How to Help Kincade Fire Victims
Here are just a few of the ways how you can help the victims of the North Bay fires and how you can help the region recover. We hope you consider volunteering or donating.
What to Donate / What NOT to Donate
If you’d like to support disaster victims, emergency responders suggest that the best way to help is with a financial donation, which they can use for what they need. You’re encouraged to donate to established relief organizations that are actively involved as they best situated to understand the needs of disaster victims.
Please note that Sonoma County says that food, clothing and household items are not being accepted at this time. Contributing unsolicited items can overwhelm relief efforts.
This is by no means an exhaustive list – Funcheap focuses mainly on events, but we’re doing our best to compile resources in a rapidly-changing environment. Things can change quickly, so always check the information below and remember there are lots of smaller organizations that need your help that we may not have listed below.
Open Your Home to Evacuees
Airbnb Open Homes – Join the community of hosts who are donating their homes and providing emergency shelter to people affected by hurricanes, forest fires, flooding, and other disasters. All fees are waived for hosts and for evacuees.
Where to Donate/Volunteer:
You may volunteer at any time with the following agencies:
- The County of Sonoma
- Search and Rescue
- American Red Cross
- Volunteer Center of Sonoma County
- Sonoma Volunteer Program
- Love on Haight (in San Francisco) is offering free face masks for the community. Plus, they’re organizing a Room Board of rooms available and rooms offered. They’re also accepting donations of new items and non perishable food items. They’re also seeking drivers to take up the donations.
- Sonoma County Resilience Fund
- Red Cross – Text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
- United Way – Kincade Fire Emergency Relief & Recovery Fund
- World Central Kitchen – Helps feed people in disaster areas
Volunteers should work with established relief organizations already involved in the response. Please do not self-deploy for your safety and the safety of first responders.
Donate Blood
Red Cross has a critical need for all blood types and platelet donations. Schedule an appointment online to call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to donate. The reason why blood donations are particularly important this time is because many blood drives had to be canceled due to the fires.
Websites / Resources / How to Help:
- ABC7 – One of the most helpful guides incl. donation info, road closures, transit impact, and mental health resources.
- KQED – List of where to donate and how to volunteer
- SF Gate – Where to volunteer, how to donate and shelter information
- Fast Company – Great round up of organizations providing aid, plus ways to help immigrants and pets.
- Sonoma Magazine – Great resources for Santa Rosa, donating meals and shelters
- AirNow.gov – For air quality in the Bay Area
- Northern California Grantmakers – Vetted wildfire relief and recovery funds including long-term assistance to help residents recover and rebuild
- Free Museums in SF for Evacuees – Many museums in San Francisco offer free museum admission through November 1st.
