AUSTRALIA WILDFIRES

Below are organizations that are helping with the Australia Wildfire crisis.

Australian Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org.au/news-and-media/news/your-donations-in-action

The Australian Red Cross is accepting donations to its Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, which has helped to send 1,285 staff members and volunteers to communities affected by the fires and to provide support to displaced people sheltering in more than 69 evacuation and recovery centers. The Red Cross also provides emergency grants to help people cover their immediate needs.

There are other ways to help if you cannot donate money. The Red Cross says clothing and household goods can be given to Red Cross-affiliated shops, or suggests holding garage sales or fund-raising events. Volunteering roles are also possible. After training, volunteers are deployed to fill emergency roles. Go to https://www.redcross.org.au/get-involved/connect/volunteer.

Salvation Army Australia
https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/

Like other organizations, the Salvation Army advises donors to send money instead of goods because of the logistical difficulties of storing and distributing goods in areas affected by disasters. Donations are funneled to various forms of assistance, including mental health support and housing. You can give by following this link: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=disasterappeal .

“Financial donations also allow residents the opportunity to make their own choices and inject much-needed funds into local economies and businesses, helping communities recover sooner,” the organization says.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

The lay Catholic organization has more than 60,000 members and volunteers who assist people in need across Australia. Its bush fire appeal (see https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw?_ga=2.9129392.408731296.1578324832-1672309718.1578324832) designates how far specific financial amounts can go, and brings home the reality of how the disaster has upended the lives of the dispossessed: $50 (about $35 American dollars) can provide food for a displaced family; $150 can help stave off bills; and $300 can help clothe a fleeing family that had to leave behind their belongings.

NSW Rural Fire Service

Firefighters and community workers in rural fire brigades are in the thick of it. The fire service has a map that is regularly updated, showing clusters of fire spots stretching along a swath of the country’s southeast coast. Donations are directed to emergency efforts and nonemergency community work. Go to https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade.

Previous disaster response information:

CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

As we go through another California Fire Season, we have neighbors close to home who need assistance.  The following list of Ways You Can Help is provided by SF Chronicle (sfchronicle.com) in response to the Sonoma County wildfire.

American Red Cross

The Red Cross is accepting financial donations for victims of this disaster. People can visit redcross.org, call 1-800-733-2767, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10. The Red Cross is not accepting food, clothing or household items.

Volunteer in Sonoma County

The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County and Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership coordinate volunteer efforts during a disaster. Visit sonoma.cvnl.org to browse available opportunities and sign up.

Redwood Acre Food Bank

The food bank needs food and financial donations as well as volunteers to meet the needs of many evacuees. People who wish to volunteer should email volunteers@refb.org, and they will be contacted with information. Go to refb.org to make a financial contribution or learn how to donate food.

Sonoma County Animal Services

This organization is accepting financial donations to help provide care, food, blankets and veterinary supplies for animals displaced by the fire. Visit sonomacounty.ca.gov for more information.

Sonoma Family Meal

The organization, which provides meals for fire survivors, is accepting financial donations and offers from professional chefs to volunteer in the kitchen. Volunteers are also needed to move and pick up food. Visit sonomacountymeal.org.

World Central Kitchen

The organization has set up at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa to provide meals for those affected by the Kincade Fire. Visit wck.org and click the link for Kincade Fire relief to see if there are slots available for volunteering.

Petaluma People Services Center

The nonprofit is accepting financial donations and volunteers for the Kincade Fire relief effort at petalumapeople.org. In addition, it is accepting donations of dry shampoo, batteries, hydrocortisone cream, Sweet ’n Low, sleeping bags and blankets.

Community Emergency Response Team

People can sign up for training classes at ready.gov/cert in disaster response to be prepared to serve the community in case of a future disaster.

You can also help by donating to a relief organization of your choice.

HURRICANE DORIAN

In response to the disaster and devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, we naturally ask, "What can we do?" "How can we assist?"

First and foremost, we can pray that God would comfort those in need. We can pray for organizations currently on the ground as they respond first with relief and then by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's also pray for healing and rebuilding in the affected communities.

For those who wish to make monetary donations, the following is a list of organizations currently on the ground providing assistance: