It is hard to believe that it has been 12 days since my community was hit by the relentless and devastating fires. Mentally and emotionally I am still trying to come to terms with what happened. Family, friends and acquaintances lost their homes and their businesses. And sadly some lost their loved ones – people and pets. Feeling immense gratitude, I was spared. My home was not affected by the fires, I never lost power and I was not required to evacuate. My husband Steve, my dog Violet and my cats Stig & Clover are all safe and are adjusting to Napa’s “new” normal. In the midst of all this sadness and uncertainty, my Wine Country neighbors did exactly what I expected. We banded together to assist those who needed the help most. From feeding the First Responders, to offering those without a home a safe place to sleep, to caring for our misplaced animals – large and small.
The fires are under control, most evacuation orders have been lifted and the air quality is improving daily! The majority of businesses are open again and ready to welcome guests. If you are looking for a way to help our Wine Country recover, there are so many ways! First, please don’t forget about us. Napa is still a gorgeous place to visit full of restaurants, boutiques, hotels and wineries that, more than ever, want to offer you an amazing experience. If you aren’t heading out for a vacation any time soon, purchase Napa and Sonoma wines in your hometown. Whether you are dining out with friends or planning a quiet evening at home, Napa and Sonoma wines are available around the world. If you have the means to donate money to help rebuild this vibrant community, there are many organizations that will appreciate your support and will keep the funds local! The Napa Valley Community Foundation is a wonderful place to start. This organization will get the funds to those that need it most. The Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL) is also a local organization that will ensure 100% of your donation helps the victims of the fires. I’ve worked with their team in the past & really respect what they do for the nonprofit community so this is where Steve and I chose to make our first donation. The Redwood Credit Union (RCU), in partnership with their RCU Community Fund, Inc., has teamed up with the Press Democrat and Senator Mike McGuire and are now accepting financial donations to assist the North Bay fire victims and aid relief efforts. 100% of your tax-deductible donations will go directly to support those affected. Through their website, you can choose to support any or all of the four counties that have been affected – Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino or Lake. Click here to see how the relief fund has helped!
If you are like me, you may want to support the animals displaced or injured by the fire. The Wildlife Rescue Center of Napa County (WRCNC) rehabilitates and releases many wildlife species that are orphaned, kidnapped, ill, injured or in distress. The WRCNC had just enough time to relocate their wildlife from the clinic but had to leave most of their supplies behind. Though the clinic was spared from the fire, they lost all power and most of the food and refrigerated medications were ruined. I volunteered with this group of compassionate people for three years and I was happy to be able to donate some funds to help them get back on their feet!
If you are planning your wine tasting experiences in Sonoma or Napa Valley, visit Cellarpass to do all of your scheduling. They have teamed up with Wine Country Animal Lovers (WCAL) to raise money to help reunite families with their beloved pets, get the needed help to the ranchers to transport their farmed animals and cover costs for the medical attention that animals may require. All funds collected by Cellarpass will be donated directly to WCAL. This was another place that Steve and I felt our donations would do the most good! Though one of their staff members made it out of the fire with just her darling dog and the clothes she had on and three more of the staff were evacuated, Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch has done a remarkable job of helping our local companion and farmed animals over the last 2 weeks. They are a local, vegan-friendly animal protection group that is always on the front lines! Monetary contributions or items from their Immediate Needs Wish list are greatly appreciated!
I have no doubt that Wine Country will recover and will be stronger than ever. But we can’t do it without you. Please send your loving thoughts, drink our wine whenever and wherever you can, come visit us and support our recovery with your generous donations. And please don’t forget… to eat, drink and be vegan!
Postscript: With gratitude I want to thank the First Responders who came here from across the country & around the world to help fight this fire. You are my heroes!! Sending my compassion & love to the family of volunteer Firefighter Garrett Paiz who sadly lost his life while fighting the Nuns Fire. Santa Rosa has suffered great losses – in life and property. I want to send my love and compassion to you. I will be in Santa Rosa in a few weeks to offer my support! Love Tonia
