The catastrophic fires in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino have deeply affected many of us, captivating our hearts and weighing on our minds as we watched devastating footage and heard heart-wrenching stories as flames raged through neighborhood after neighborhood.
The road to recovery is going to be long and hard, with initial damage estimates already topping $1 billion and two key industries, wine and tourism, deeply impacted.
San Luis Obispo has strong ties to our neighbors in the north, from friends and family to business relationships there, and our hearts go out to everyone affected.
One of our community’s greatest strengths is our willingness to support one another in times of need, and we’re proud to see San Luis Obispo residents and businesses rallying to help those affected by the fires in many ways.
Here are various efforts you can join to help rebuild the fire-ravaged communities.
- Contribute to a GoFundMe campaign started by Linda Sanpei, Cheryl Rowe and Vanessa Igel from Parker Sanpei.
- Visit Cutruzzola Vineyards Cambria tasting room, which is donating 10 percent of all sales to fire victims.
- Send words of support to those in fire-stricken areas. Contact Barnett Cox & Associates at [email protected] for a stack of postcards so that family and friends can participate too.
- Join Tolosa Winery, Alpha Omega Winery and Baggett BBQ in supporting Operation BBQ Relief, providing meals to displaced residents and emergency responders. A $25 donation provides 25 meals.
- Stop by the Keith Ogren Art Show at Croma Vera winery Nov. 2, when 50 percent of Ogren’s sales and 10 percent of other art and wine sales will benefit CA Wine Strong.
- The Community Foundation has opened its Disaster Support Fund and waived all administrative fees to provide urgent assistance to organizations working on the ground in northern California. Fellow community members are encouraged to visit www.cfsloco.org to learn more and make their contribution today to this fund.
- Novo, Luna Red, Robin’s and Mint + Craft will be helping those affected by the wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Through Nov. 12, 2017 the restaurants will donate $2 for every bottle of wine sold from their lists of Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino Counties wines and $1 for every other bottle of wine on the lists.
- Filipponi Ranch will donate $1 for every bottle of chardonnay sold in the month of November.
Here are some efforts that have wrapped up and are now tallying what they raised to help.
- Nearly 100 San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles-area wineries and establishments committed to donating $1 per bottle sold through the end of October, as part of the statewide CA Wine Strong relief effort. Find participating locations through the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and the San Luis Obispo Wine Country Association.
- Granada Hotel & Bistro and the Station wine shop are donating 50 percent and 10 percent, respectively, of the price of Northern California wines through the end of October. The two establishments are held a fundraising event.
- Baileyana’s Disaster Relief Fundraiser Oct. 29 featured music by Bear Market Riot, food from Hurricane Kitchen, wine, a raffle and a silent auction with proceeds going to help victims of all recent natural disasters through Goleta-based Direct Relief.
Please email [email protected] if you are doing something to help, we would love to feature it here.