MIDDLETOWN, Calif.—Credit unions are forming a number of relief funds and other efforts in response to the devastating wildfires in Northern California—and especially in Lake County—that have destroyed more than 400 homes, caused one death and led to second-degree burns for four firefighters.
The Middletown Relief Fund will dedicate 100% of the funds raised to those in these areas from Napa to Sacramento. As it has done for other firefighters and fire victims, the funds will be used to pay expenses for everything from food to mortgages/rent.
"Our firefighters are facing immense obstacles and frankly, awful conditions in this tremendous heat, while the fire continues to rage and spread," explains Mike Mastro, chair of the Fire Family Foundation Board and CEO/president of Firefighters First Credit Union. "Our commitment is to firefighters. We have always been there to help our firefighters and now those injured need our help even more."
The Foundation is a nonprofit organization currently helping Firefighter Damien Pereira who was critically injured earlier this year fighting a wild land fire. A limb fell on him and the 27-year old is paralyzed from the waist down.
For info: www.FireFamilyFoundation.org and enter Middleton Relief Fund for tribute gift or make checks payable to Fire Family Foundation, 815 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041 with a notation: Middleton Relief Fund.
Meanwhile, in Santa Rosa, Calif., Redwood Credit Union has established a Lake County Fire Victims Fund and is accepting contributions to assist those impacted by the fires. Anyone can make a secure donation online at www.redwoodcu.org/lakecountyfirevictims or at any of RCU’s 16 Bay Area branch locations. RCU’s fire relief fund was created in partnership with Santa Rosa’s Press Democrat in conjunction with Senator Mike McGuire.