Editor’s Note: This article is a sidebar to Getting Through the Vintage Together.
The devastating wildfires in Northern California have yielded tragic losses of life and destroyed more than 200,000 acres of land. Vineyards and wineries were set ablaze, thousands of homes and businesses have been decimated, and many more are without power. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and are still displaced, while hundreds remain missing.
Firefighters have been unflagging in their attempts to get the blazes under control, but the losses are great and the need for support is significant. It’s going to take a lot to rebuild and restore all of the communities that have been ravaged by these fires.
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To aid in the Northern California wine country relief effort, SevenFifty Daily has compiled a list of organizations committed to helping those who have lost their loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in this disaster.
Here at SevenFifty, we’ve established a GoFundMe page page to donate to to local residents in the wine regions that have been hit hardest: Sonoma, Mendocino, and Napa. Proceeds raised will go to the Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Recovery Fund and will be distributed to fire victims by the fund.
Getting Through the Vintage Together
Stories of winemaker generosity, bravery, and perseverance from California’s North Coast fire zones
Rebuild Wine Country is also accepting donations for every wine-country county affected by the wildfires. Rebuild Wine Country’s focus is on rebuilding over the long term, in the months and years to come. One-hundred percent of donations will be distributed through its sponsor, Habitat for Humanity, to repair and rebuild homes that were lost in the fires for the farm workers, elderly, hourly employees, and other community members in need.
Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief, established by wine director Patrick Cappiello, vineyard owner Pax Mahle, and wine merchant Sara Morgenstern, is accepting donations online. Their focus is to garner the support of wine professionals to assist in rebuilding affected wine counties. In addition to online donations, WSCWR will be hosting three fundraising events in late October (in Healdsburg, San Francisco, and New York City) in partnership with #CAWineStrong, Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief, and Napa Valley Community Foundation. One-hundred percent of all proceeds will benefit wildfire victims in Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, and Yuba counties.
The Wine Institute is also providing a list of resources for winery and vineyard owners impacted by the fires. Additionally, the United Way of the Wine Country is accepting donations online, Sonoma County has created temporary home-sharing for those who have lost their housing due to the recent fires (email SHAREFire@petalumapeople.org or call 707-765-8488), and donations can also be made to Redwood Empire Food Bank. Individual contributions can be made to community foundations for Sonoma County, Napa Valley, and Mendocino County. Each are established disaster relief funds for their respective counties.
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Lauren DiFilippo was formerly the Digital Producer at SevenFifty Daily.
