VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— To help the Ventura County community recover in the aftermath of the devastating Woolsey and Hill Fires, Ventura County Credit Union (VCCU) has partneredwith 805Help, a nonprofit community organization supporting survivors of local disasters, to provide supplies for survivors.
In total, VCCU donated 800 reusable tote bags, 250 notepads and 500 pens to 805Help for distribution among residents in the community who experienced losses in the recent fires. The credit union also provided storage space at its corporate headquarters in Ventura for 805Help to store other goods donated by the community.
“Our community has been through so much over the past couple of years, but we have also learned how much stronger we are when we work together,” said Natalie Yanez, VCCU’s director of community partnerships. “At VCCU, we’ve been helping out in every way we can, and it is truly inspiring to see so many others in our community stepping up to do the same.” 805Help connects help with need on a grassroots level, helping survivors find resources from housing and transportation to food, household goods, services and more. In addition to providing support for those affected by the Hill and Woolsey Fires, the organization is assisting survivors of the Thomas Fire, Montecito mudslides and Borderline shooting.
“The generosity of our community and organizations like VCCU is making a real difference forso many people here in Ventura County, and we are tremendously grateful for the support,” said Emily Barany, co-founder of 805 Help. “While there is still so much left to do to help our community heal, we are making great progress, and if we continue to work together, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”
This past year VCCU also gave $50,000 in grants to 65 members who were impacted by the Thomas Fire to help them recover and rebuild.