$82,000 in grants awarded to survivors of North Complex fires

More than $80,000 in grants have been awarded by North Valley Community Foundation to benefit survivors of 2020’s North Complex fires in Butte County.

With the $82,773 in new grants, NVCF has now issued $766,173 in grants for North Complex fires survivors.

The grant committee awarded $50,000 — $25,000 apiece to case managers working with St. Vincent de Paul and Northern Valley Catholic Social Service — for an Unmet Needs Fund for fire survivors. Those case managers work with individuals and can tap into the Unmet Needs Fund to help with individual fire recovery plans.

A grant of $17,773 will help the Cal Fire-Butte County Company 52 in Feather Falls purchase a standby generator, propane tank, water storage tank and other equipment. Company 52 has offered the only on-ground fire support in Feather Falls for more than 30 years, but relies heavily upon fundraising and grants for equipment.

A grant of $10,000 will help establish a Wildfire Resource Recovery Center for North Complex fires survivors. The building at the Lakeside Market Shopping Center in east Oroville will serve as the home to member organizations of the Bear Fire Long Term Recovery Group, giving fire survivors convenient walk-in service for many of their needs. The center will provide access to case managers, crisis counseling and emotional support, and computers so survivors can get signed up for county, state and federal services.

A grant of $5,000 will allow the Berry Creek Community Council to provide shade structures, ice chests and other items to help survivors who are returning to their properties cope with the summer heat.

For more information on the Bear/North Complex Fire Grant Program, including information on how nonprofits and government agencies can apply, visit www.nvcf.org/ north-complex-fire-grantprogram.

North Complex fires survivors who need help can learn more at https:// 211northcomplexfire.org or by calling 211.