Wineries organizing fundraising drive
In response to the devastating Valley Fire, three leading organizations that represent wineries and vineyard owners in Lake County have announced plans to lead a fundraising drive — #LakeCountyRising — to help those affected by the Valley Fire. The organizations include Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association, and Lake County Wine Alliance. The Wine Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will manage the collection and distribution of tax-deductible donations to support rebuilding efforts focused on livelihood, housing and community needs. For information on how to support this important cause, go to www.facebook.com/LakeCountyRising or follow Twitter hashtag, #LakeCountyRising.
“When tragedies strike, our community comes together,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “This is one of the worst fires in California’s history, but it’s shown the absolute best of Lake County. We face a long and slow road to recovery, but we will get there together with the generous support of groups like the Lake County Winegrape Commission, Lake County Winery Association, and Lake County Wine Alliance. Lake County will rise, and we will reinvigorate this great community that we all love so much.”
The drive #LakeCountyRising aims to raise significant funds over the coming weeks and months to help members of the Lake County community cope, adjust, and rebuild after the Valley Fire. It will work with local organizations and government agencies to identify the most pressing community needs.
How to Donate
Individuals and businesses who would like to support this effort can do so by visiting the Lake County Rising page on Facebook and making a donation online. Checks can be sent to:
Lake County Wine Alliance
P.O. Box 530
Kelseyville, CA 95451
Make checks payable to Lake County Wine Alliance, memo “Lake County Fire Relief Fund.”
Davis Tire to donate day of profits
If you need new tires, and are also looking for a way to help those who have been displaced by the Valley Fire, check out Davis Tire & Auto Repair in Lakeport.
Next Friday, Sept. 25, Davis Tire will donate 100 percent of the day’s profits to help Valley Fire Victims, and have teamed up with Mendo Lake Credit Union (MLCU) and North Coast Opportunities (NCO) to help make that happen.
Davis Tire asks anyone who is interested to contact them at 263-0277 and schedule an appointment. Technicians are prepared to give it their all all day and put in overtime if necessary to get as much done in one day as possible. There are only so many vehicles they can service in a day, however, so you are encouraged to schedule your appointment soon.
They will also be accepting donations on behalf of MLCU and NCO.
Davis Tire & Auto Repair is located at 2101 S. Main St, Lakeport.
AmeriGas to waive leak check fee
Lake County Gas and Amerigas Propane wants to remind all gas utility consumers who are returning to their homes following a wildfire-related evacuation to exercise caution and to call their energy provider if their system was turned off or if they have had any interruption of service.
According to Brilynn Johnson, regional manager for AmeriGas, all propane customers should contact their provider before attempting to turn their system back on.
“Leave it to the experts,” Brilynn said. “Only trained technicians should be operating these systems, and the National Fire Protection Association requires a leak check to be performed whenever propane supply is turned off prior to re-instating service.”
Lake County Gas and AmeriGas Propane will waive the leak check fee for all Lake County Gas and AmeriGas Propane customers.
Free concert fundraiser in Sebastopol
A free concert and fundraiser will be held Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Sebastopol Community Cultural Center.
The event will feature silent auctions, raffles and refreshment sales, from which proceeds will go toward relief for victims of the Valley Fire. Goodwill offerings will also be accepted.
Some of the bands scheduled to perform include Gator Nation, Frobeck, Kevin Russell, Love Choir, Sherry Jones, Buzzy Martin and Harvest Band.
To donate raffle and auction items, contact Jim Corbett at 823-5849 or jimcorbett22@comcast.net.
The Sebastopol Community Cultural Center is located at 390 Morris St. in Sebastopol.
Yuba campus offers coping workshops
The Counseling staff at the Yuba College Clear Lake Campus is offering a series of workshops to assist students and community members who have experienced loss and need recovery support due to the recent Valley Fire.
The workshops will cover common responses for coping when faced with trauma and tips and helpful hints for restoring normal feelings and functionality. Resources for coping will also be distributed. The workshops include Common Responses to Trauma and Healthy Coping Responses, Coping with Children’s Reactions to Fire and Critical Incidents, and Personal Responses to Crisis.
There is no charge to attend and all workshops will be held on the Clear Lake Campus, 15880 Dam Road Extension. For information call the campus at 995-7900.
El Molino High School collecting donations
The El Molino Boosters club created a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to help Valley fire victims. The El Molino Lions, a neigbhoring school in Forestville, wanted to help the Middletown High School athletic department, especially the in-season football team, as some of the team’s players lose their equipment and gear in the fires. The El Molino Boosters club created a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe has raised more than $20,000 — far exceeding the original goal of $10,000.
To find out more information or to contribute visit https://www.gofundme.com/MiddletownMustangs.
Savings bank opens fire relief fund
To support the fire recovery efforts, Savings Bank of Mendocino County is accepting financial donations on behalf of North Coast Opportunities. If you would like to make a tax deductible donation, checks made payable to North Coast Opportunities with Valley Fire on the memo line may be dropped off at any of the 10 branch locations in Lake and Mendocino counties or mailed to P.O. Box 3600 Ukiah, CA 95482.
Local bankers encourage those affected by the Valley Fire with financial questions and concerns to call or visit the nearest savings bank branch.
“We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our employees who are donating items and making monetary contributions to aid in the fire relief,” said Katie Kight, AVP/Marketing Officer. “Our thoughts and support go out to our friends and neighbors who have been affected by the Valley Fire.”
