Northern California Wildfires October 2017 Partial list of resources for Volunteers/People wanting to help Toastmasters - Read me first!

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1 Toastmasters - Read me first! No donations required. No donation from Club treasuries! Where to donate and/or volunteer to help The recovery effort will take month and years, and the communities need will change. Please check back for updates: Sonoma County Napa County Mendocino County For Sonoma County, if you have a home, apartment, or room that is available to share or rent for 2-4 months, please contact or sharefire@petalumapeople.org. Airbnb has launched Open Homes program for those seeking shelter free of charge at a residence outside of but nearby the affected area. The company is also looking for those willing to volunteer space at their local home for evacuees, including Berkeley and Oakland areas. CaliforniaVolunteers (ca.gov) Most current donation and volunteer information: American Red Cross Donate: (also accepting monetary donations via phone by texting REDCROSS to 90999) Volunteer at The Salvation Army The Salvation Army Nor Cal Wildfire Relief: Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership Marin County: Napa County: Solano County (c)(3) Non-profit Donate: Volunteer: Browse listings specific to wildfire recovery if desired (Local Assistance Centers (LAC), various food banks/food pantries) V2017_1023b, compiled by Wing K. Lok, District 57 Toastmasters Page 1 of 5

2 Napa Valley Community Foundation (c)(3) Non-profit Donate to Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund: Contact Adrienne D. Capps, Vice President of Development, at ext Sonoma County Napa County Mendocino County United Way Wine Country (c)(3) Non-profit Donate: Wildfire Relief Fund, ext. 112 or Rusty Smith at : Also accepting gift cards to local restaurants and stores Redwood Empire Food Bank (c)(3) Non-profit Donate: Sonoma County Fire Relief Fund Volunteer: Community Action of Napa Valley (c)(3) Non-profit Donate: Volunteer Center Sonoma County (c)(3) Non-profit Donate: Volunteer: Community Foundation of Mendocino County (c)(3) Non-profit Disaster Fund for Mendocino County V2017_1023b, compiled by Wing K. Lok, District 57 Toastmasters Page 2 of 5

3 North Coast Opportunities (c)(3) Non-profit Donate: Volunteer: Mendocino Coast Children s Fund (c)(3) Non-profit Latino Community Foundation (c)(3) Non-profit Redwood Credit Union Community Fund Inc. (RCUCF) , ext (c)(3) Non-profit Redwood Credit Union: Napa County food pantries Accepting non-perishable foods, listing: Sonoma County Food Pantries Accepting non-perishable foods, listing: Pets/Animal Shelters Contact the facility to see what they need. Best way to help is financial contribution. Humane Society of Sonoma County: Humane Society of Napa County: Sonoma County Animal Services: Yuba-Sutter SPCA: Napa County Animal Shelter: Marin Humane Society SPCA of Solano County City of Santa Rosa YouCaring campaign City of Santa Rosa YouCaring campaign for Tubbs Fire Victims in Santa Rosa: GoFundMe and YouCaring campaigns are typically not tax-deductible, unless directly linked to legitimate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and explicitly stated as tax-deductible. V2017_1023b, compiled by Wing K. Lok, District 57 Toastmasters Page 3 of 5

4 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit: Any donation is deductible to the extent recognized by law. You can confirm if an organization is recognized as a 501(c)(3) and a registered California nonprofit corporation by visiting GuideStar and/or Charity Navigator Encourage your employer to consider matching contribution to these 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit! For additional information and easy-to-use tips on avoiding charity scams following a disaster, please visit the California Office of the Attorney General s Charities website, Sources: From Donations to Volunteering: How to Help Fire Victims The California Report KQED News How you can help people affected by the North Bay fires (or get help if you are an evacuee) SFGate Updated: Where fire victims can apply for tax relief and FEMA grants and loans SFGate Here are resources for Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake fire-affected businesses and employees The North Bay Business Journal Andrea Barte, San Pablo Police Department, San Pablo, CA V2017_1023b, compiled by Wing K. Lok, District 57 Toastmasters Page 4 of 5

5 CONNECTING WITH OTHERS GIVING SOCIAL SUPPORT You can help family members and friends cope with the disaster by spending time with them and listening carefully. Most people recover better when they feel connected to others who care about them. Some people choose not to talk about their experiences very much, and others may need to discuss their experiences. For some, talking about things that happened because of the disaster can help them seem less overwhelming. For others, just spending time with people one feels close to and accepted by, without having to talk, can feel best. Here is some information about giving social support to other people. Reasons Why People May Avoid Social Support Not knowing what they need Not wanting to burden others Wanting to avoid thinking or Feeling embarrassed or weak Doubting it will be helpful, or feeling about the event Feeling they will lose control that others won t understand Feeling that others will be Having tried to get help and disappointed or judgmental felt that it wasn t there before Not knowing where to get help Good Things to Do When Giving Support Show interest, attention, and care Find an uninterrupted time and place to talk Be free of expectations or judgments Rushing to tell someone that he/she will be okay or that they should just get over it Discussing your own personal experiences without listening to the other person s story Stopping the person from talking about what is bothering them Let the person know that experts think that avoidance and withdrawal are likely to increase distress, and social support helps recovery Encourage the person to get involved in a support group with others who have similar experiences Show respect for individuals reactions and ways of coping Acknowledge that this type of stress can take time to resolve Help brainstorm positive ways to deal with their reactions Things That Interfere with Giving Support Talk about expectable reactions to disasters, and healthy coping Believe that the person is capable of recovery Offer to talk or spend time together as many times as is needed Acting like someone is weak or exaggerating because he or she isn t coping as well as you are Giving advice without listening to the person s concerns or asking the person what works for him or her Telling them they were lucky it wasn t worse When Your Support is Not Enough Source: Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide, 2nd Edition Encourage the person to talk with a counselor, clergy, or medical professional, and offer to accompany them Enlist help from others in your social circle so that you all take part in supporting the person V2017_1023b, compiled by Wing K. Lok, District 57 Toastmasters Page 5 of 5