First, let me say how lucky we are to live in this community. The Redwood Fire has been disastrous; but despite the devastation, over and over our community has found ways to help our friends and neighbors who’ve been impacted the most.
In fact, I can’t imagine a more caring and compassionate community than ours. So many people have selflessly answered the call to help those impacted by the fire, and I want to thank all of you for everything you’ve done. Your donations of food, shelter, clothing and money have meant the difference to those affected. I feel proud to be part of this community.
Moving forward, fire victims need to start rebuilding their lives, and to do that, they need our monetary donations. If you want your donations to stay local, please consider giving through the Community Foundation’s Disaster Fund for Mendocino County.
The fund was established to support family resource centers, senior centers, community dining rooms and other non-profits that provide disaster relief and recovery services to households impacted by disasters. Money raised through this fund will help provide meals, temporary housing assistance, replacement of essential household items, and medical care or counseling.
To make a tax-deductible contribution, please go to www.communityfound.org and click on the link to the Disaster Fund page. Because of the generous sponsorship of Aaron Obenyah LLP, CPAs, every single penny you donate through this fund will to go directly to those in need. I encourage you to donate if you can, because these donations will be incredibly important to fire victims in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Another wonderful way to support those affected by the fire is to attend this Saturday night’s fundraiser at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. On Saturday, November 4 from 4:00 – 10:00 PM, organizers of the Mendocino Strong Together Fundraiser invite everyone to come and support Redwood Complex Fire survivors.
The event will include a tri-tip and taco dinner; music by Alex Degrassi, Spencer Brewer and friends; live and silent auctions; and an afterparty dance with Waylon & The Wildcats and the Johnny Young Band. Tickets are $20 in advance, and you can buy them at all Mendo Mill locations, Mendocino Bookstore in Ukiah, Crush in Ukiah, and Geigers Market in Laytonville. You can also purchase them at the door for $25. (Ages 5 and under are free.)
Along with providing assistance when disaster strikes, our community has a long tradition of helping those in need throughout the year, and I’d like to remind everyone that a group of committed volunteers is working hard–right now–to ensure that the Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort has another successful year.
Each November, Christmas Effort volunteers begin working to ensure that local families will have fresh, nutritious and delicious Christmas dinners with turkeys, stuffing, cranberries and all the trimmings. Volunteers also provide gifts for each child in a home. It is only because of your donations that this group can complete this achievement.
Although the Christmas Effort appreciates all donations, they need money to purchase food and gifts for hundreds of families in our community. And while they accept financial and gift donations throughout the year, they need financial donations most urgently now, during November, as they begin to plan this year’s effort.
You can send donations to the Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort at P.O. Box 801, Ukiah, CA 95482. For more information, call (707) 272-9627 or email ukiahchristmaseffort@yahoo.com. The Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort also has a great Facebook page: www.facebook.com/UkiahValleyChristmasEffort
If you’re looking for a way to make a positive impact, please consider attending the Mendocino Strong Together Fundraiser Saturday night, and giving to our Community Foundation’s Disaster Fund and the Christmas Effort. Helping others in our community helps us all; it really is what makes our community such a great place to live.
As always, our mission at UPD is simple: to make Ukiah as safe as possible. If you have suggestions on how we can improve please feel free to call me. If you would like to know more about crime in your neighborhood, you can sign up for telephone, cell phone and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website: www.ukiahpolice.com.
