Updated 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18.
Since the onset of the fires, there's been an outpouring of donations via money, volunteers and items. Organizations from all over have been receiving a "generous" amount of donations, according to Pam Nold, executive assistant at United Way of the Wine Country. Due to the large number of donated items, numerous organizations are stressing that financial assistance is the best way to help out at the moment.
Whether it's donating money or volunteering, there are various ways to help out those impacted by the wildfires in Northern California. Here is a list of major organizations accepting financial donations:
- Napa Valley Community Foundation
- American Red Cross (The organization is also accepting monetary donations via phone by texting “REDCROSS” to 90999)
- The Salvation Army
- Evacuation centers across Sonoma County are accepting cash donations
- Emergency Volunteer Center
- United Way Wine Country
- Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Disaster Fund for Mendocino County
- Communication Action of Napa Valley
Animal Shelters:
Looking to help out in more direct ways? Volunteering is another option.
- Red Cross
- Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership
- Host your space with Airbnb to provide free lodging for evacuees
- Contact Sonoma Community Center to find out where they need volunteers
- Redwood Empire Food Bank
- Travel site HipCamp is connecting evacuees with people offering their space
- Volunteer Center Sonoma County
- Doctors, nurses and emergency medical technicians can report directly to the medical office at Sonoma Valley High School Evacuation Center
Numerous shelters are also receiving item donations, but check with specific organizations to see what they need and don't need:
- United Way is accepting gift cards to local restaurants and stores.
- Napa County food pantries are accepting non-perishable foods.
- Sonoma County food pantries
- Ready-to-eat, non-perishable food at the Redwood Empire Food Bank (3990 Brickway Blvd., Santa Rosa, California)
- Volunteer Center of Sonoma County is accepting gift cards to local restaurants and stores.
This is in no way an exhaustive list. Some smaller organizations are reaching capacity and/or have not been verified. Please be sure to call the location before dropping off donations, or check their social media for updates. We've chosen not to list them, but encourage you to let others know more in the comments.