Fire evacuees, survivors get relief, free food
Local partnerships in Butte County pulled together a food distribution and outreach across all county cities.
CHICO » Local partnerships in Butte County pulled together a food distribution and outreach for fire survivors across all cities, starting Friday morning at the former Chico Kmart.
North State Relief 501(c) (3) along with the United States Department of Agriculture distributed boxes of fresh produce —22,000 pounds of fresh food — for families in need through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. Local organizations like From the Ground Up helped arrange transport of food to locations around the county, such as First Christian Church in Paradise, Mooretown Rancheria, Magalia Community Church and the current Federal Emergency Management Agency camp in Gridley.
The distribution was set up weeks in advance, but From the Ground Up Executive Director Jennie Lowrey said she scrambled Monday to also set up help for people who evacuated the North Complex West Zone (formerly known as the Bear Fire) beginning Sept. 8. Her organization’s focus is on the Concow and Yankee Hill communities.
A total of 1,848 boxes went out into the county, distributed by over 12 agencies and individuals to benefit over 1,800 families.
“North Valley Community Foundation donated funding for water and masks,” Lowrey added. “United Way donated funding for gift cards and meal preparation and a huge donation of wool blankets, five gallon empty gas cans, diapers, wipes, hygiene care, hand sanitizer and so much more from Community Resource Coalition Paradise … (the) Grocery Outlet owner (was) sending his forklift out to assist with loading and unloading.”
The nonprofit’s cofounder Bruce Matthews also helped direct volunteer crews to help load boxes of food into vehicles.
Other agencies were on site to hand out supplies and give in-person consultation to survivors and affected families. Disaster case manager Baba Kauna of Tzu Chi Recovery Services Center worked to help connect residents to relief funding, and said families can also refer to Butte 211 for other case management even for those who evacuated but did not lose a home.
Butte Hope of Northern Valley Catholic Social Services (which grew out of California Hope from a FEMA grant in 2017) helped distribute other supplies from From the Ground Up. Program Manager Jake Fender said food, water, paper products and propane were made available to folks along with connections to crisis counseling.
Camp Fire survivor Leeann Sanchez helped the group organize supplies, donating some of her own food. She said after her Paradise home was destroyed, she wants to help others going through the same pain — “it breaks my heart.”
Green Paradise Cafe On Wheels also handed out free burritos from a truck at the location as folks picked up supplies.
Melissa Hayes brought her infant son Huckleberry while picking up supplies, and said her Big Bend home survived the West Zone fire as well as the Camp Fire (which she said surrounded her home but left it standing). Hayes intends to remain in Butte County, but said her sister is selling her 50-acre home and moving to escape “fire season.”
Others are still waiting to find out if they still have a house. Danni Maloney evacuated Berry Creek and isn’t sure if her home is still standing.
“It isn’t looking good,” Maloney said.
With emotion, she said she just wants to know when it will be safe to go back “and see what’s left.”
“It’s where I grew up.” She stayed in a Roseville hotel and by Saturday will be staying in Gridley.
The event was also a place for families who went through the Camp Fire to volunteer to help those still in need or now evacuated due to the North Complex. Fender said he saw many who are triggered by the fires and smoke, but want to help their community.
“It’s hard to work on yourself when you’re hungry or cold,” Fender said. “Events like this are very cathartic for folks.”
“Everyone says, ‘I may be a Camp Fire survivor, but I love doing this. This is the part I like. … There is so much of that sentiment in the community in the last two weeks.”