Above: Lake County resident Walter Dreis examines the charred ruins of his home in the Double Eagle subdivision.
Update on the Rocky/Jerusalem Fire Relief Fund
Friday, August 14, 2015
The Rocky Fire Relief Fund, created last week by North Coast Opportunities (NCO), MendoLake Credit Union (MLCU), and the Lake County Department of Social Services (LCDSS), has generated incredible community response. Formally retitled the “Rocky-Jerusalem Fire Relief Fund,” it has raised over $15,000 in just one week.
With the Rocky fire 95% contained and the Jerusalem fire at about 50%, it’s still too early to assess the full extent of damages. However, those working on the fund are committed to moving forward rapidly to ensure that people can apply for and receive assistance quickly.
The next important step is forming the management committee to manage and disburse funds. This seven-person committee will comprise two representatives from NCO, one each from MLCU and LCDSS, and three Lake County representatives from other organizations and the general community. To fill out the three community seats, interested individuals are asked to fill out this short application by Monday, August 24. This application can be found on NCO’s website, ncoinc.org, or can be picked up from any MLCU branch. Selected committee members will be informed that same week.
Those affected by the fire can apply for assistance starting on Wednesday, August 26, and the committee will determine how to distribute the funds once the fire has been fully contained and all impacts can be assessed. More details will be available about how to apply for the fund on both NCO and MLCU’s websites and Facebook accounts.
With MLCU matching $5,000, the total raised is over $20,000. “Our goal is to reach $50,000, and with such generous community support we are confident we can get there,” says NCO Chief Financial Officer Carolyn Welch, who will also serve on the committee. “No donation is too small, and we are grateful to everyone who has given any amount.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the Rocky fire relief fund can go in person to any MLCU branch, or send a check made out to North Coast Opportunities to MLCU with “Rocky Fire” in the notes field. There is also a PayPal account set up to accept online donations, which can be found on the front pages of both the NCO and MLCU websites. For more information on how to donate, how to apply for funds, or how to apply to serve on the management committee, contact NCO Executive Assistant Elizabeth Archer: earcher@ncoinc.org, (707) 467-3210.