The Camp Fire Service Report The Salvation Army Del Oro Division Serving Northern California & Northern Nevada
For Camp Fire survivors, we've provided* . . .
127,160
meals & snacks
83,320
beverages
essential items & financial help for
28,215
emotional support for
2,400
survivors *Statistics as of February 2019
Devastation and Relief
T
he Camp Fire began in Butte County on November 8, 2018 and quickly became one of the most devastating fires in California’s history, claiming 86 lives. A major portion of the town of Paradise was destroyed, including the Salvation Army Thrift Store located there. 153,336 acres were burned, destroying 13,972 homes, 528 businesses and 4,293 other buildings. 52,000 people were ultimately evacuated. As many returned to their homes, there were thousands of people from the community with no home to return to. The Salvation Army was on the scene from the beginning. Immediate Relief As soon as the Camp Fire began, we started organizing our response. For more than three weeks, we deployed multiple Emergency Disaster Service teams from Chico, Oroville, Redding, Sacramento, Auburn, Roseville, Santa Rosa, Yuba City, Reno and Solano County. At the height of the need for immediate response, we were serving at eight different locations. Our teams provided three meals a day, snacks, beverages, essential items, and emotional and spiritual care. The devastation to the area was severe, and with thousands in need, it was difficult at times to even know where to begin. It was the perseverance of our officers, staff and volunteers that made it all possible. Read on to learn more about our distribution center, Early Recovery Program, transitional housing, stories from the people who were there, and from those who supported us. The Salvation Army is deeply grateful to all who pitched in and went to work when Butte County cried out in need. Hope was found— even in the darkest of places.
Providing for Multitudes Soon after the Camp Fire started, The Salvation Army turned a large, empty warehouse into a thriving distribution center. Its purpose was to sort items donated to the Army, and give them to the survivors in an efficient manner. During the six-week operation, the center provided assistance to more than 20,000 survivors. The distribution operation helped bring order to the chaos created by the fire. On one side of the warehouse, a stream of donations was constantly coming in and being sorted. On the other side, survivors were coming in to pick up non-perishable food items, fresh food such as milk, eggs, cheese, and meat, as well as blankets, pillows, diapers, baby formula, new clothes, kitchen and cleaning supplies,
and much more. People were coming all day, every day. At times, during the early days of the fire, there were lines as long as 100 people. While most were families, we were seeing people of all ages. Once checked in, each person or family was given a shopping cart to go around the warehouse with a volunteer, filling up their carts with whatever specific items they needed. When available, they were also able to receive gift cards to local retailers. The overall mood at the distribution center seemed calm and full of gratitude. Even after the horrible experience of the fire, the distress and shock seemed to subside while survivors were there, receiving the assistance they so vitally needed.
“This is so sad. My kid has been crying; he wants to go home now. This assistance means a lot because I don’t have anything. It’s so important that people are able to get these things, so we don’t have to worry about getting a blanket, a pillow or some food.” - Jazmin, Camp Fire Survivor
Early Recovery Program When the camera crews leave, The Salvation Army doesn’t. As soon as our immediate assistance services began winding down, we began planning for the early recovery phase. We are currently providing thousands of people with the financial assistance and essential household items they need—and we’ll continue this service for as long as necessary. Our Early Recovery Program includes individual casework, as well as emotional and spiritual care. For survivors who sign up for the program, we are able to develop a recovery plan for each household. As of February 2019, we have been able to help well over 200 households with this type of assistance. After all they have been through, our goal is to get survivors into a stable living environment. We can help link them to assistance from other agencies, in addition to providing direct assistance for vital needs.
The direct assistance we are able to provide to survivors may include . . .
Move-in costs
Furniture
Disaster clean-up
Household supplies
Work supplies
medical/ prescription assistance
Transitional Housing
We helped survivors get through the tragedy of the Camp Fire—and now we’re helping them rebuild their lives. When disaster strikes, the ethos of The Salvation
and families will be able to stay in the program for
Army is that we try to be “the first on site, and
up to one year as they work on their recovery plan.
the last to leave.” This means meeting needs of
Each household will receive casework, and will
survivors at every step of the way.
have access to education and counseling, as well as food and transportation assistance. If they have lost
We work to meet the needs of each household,
their job, as many survivors have, we can provide
making sure that every person is safe and cared
job training through our culinary and construction
for. And, in the months and even years following a
training programs.
disaster, we help families rebuild their lives, and help communities get back to their “new normal.”
While in the transitional living program, the participants’ focus will be long-term stability. While
For those displaced by the Camp Fire, we are
living in a safe and sober environment, we’ll help
renovating eight homes in Marysville, CA for a
them reshape their lives. It’s part of our mission to
special transitional housing program. Individuals
walk alongside them on their path to full recovery.
Thanksgiving Feast for 400 When Thanksgiving came just two weeks after the fire started, many were facing a bleak holiday with little food. Along with dozens of volunteers, we provided a Thanksgiving meal for over 400. The community spirit was definitely present as weary survivors enjoyed a full meal— and took a break from all they were going through.
Christmas Came All the Same No disaster can stop the spirit of Christmas. So, we organized a Christmas food and toy distribution for over 300 Paradise families at our warehouse in nearby Chico.
The Survivor’s Journey “It’s about bringing hope to survivors at their first grieving milestone, which is Christmas. We have the opportunity to get to know them, and journey with them for the long haul, because it doesn’t stop at Christmas. It will continue on.” - Lieutenant Arwyn Rodriguera, Chico Corps Officer
Survivor Stories “We lost the home that we had basically waited a year to move into. We had to run out with just the clothes on our backs. My wife was crying, she lost everything, she lost her wedding ring. The food from The Salvation Army has been excellent. It gives a lot of people who have nothing some hope.” - Shawn, Camp Fire Survivor
"I've seen people come out of the woodwork to support others—simply out of kindness. I'm honored that The Salvation Army has come alongside us during this time. I'm grateful that my colleagues can sit around a table and grieve—but still find joy and hope." - Jodene Is One of 10 of Our Employees Who Lost Their Homes
“We had just purchased a house in Paradise in April, so it’s been rough. Everybody I know lost their home. The help we have received has been a great peace of mind. I’m so grateful. You have given us hope.” - Faith, Camp Fire Survivor
When disaster struck . . .
our community struck back
Through the darkness of this disaster, the sheer number of people who wanted to help is inspiring. So many chose to shine a light on the need—including some high-profile celebrities.
Benefit Music Concert
Bonneville Radio raised $63,500 from a concert with musical artists Matt Nathanson and Carly Pearce—with all proceeds going to The Salvation Army’s Camp Fire relief.
Celebrity Chefs Do Good
Chef Guy Fieri came once again to help feed evacuees. And when students from our Culinary Arts Training Program in Sacramento went to help, Chef Tyler Florence popped in for a visit and helped do some cooking! Thanks, Chefs!
Over Over120 120 small smallbusinesses, businesses, corporations, corporations, churches, churches, media mediaoutlets, outlets, foundations foundations and andvolunteer volunteer groups groupsmade made contributions. contributions. Some Somefolks folks held heldtheir theirown own community community fundraisers. fundraisers.Some Some donated donatedgoods goods and andequipment. equipment. Some Somerolled rolledup up their theirsleeves sleevesand and volunteered. volunteered. Others Otherswrote wrote checks checksand andmade made gifts giftsonline. online. We Weare aredeeply deeply grateful—for grateful—forevery every single singleone. one.
Kids Take Action Many children chose to support those affected by the Camp Fire rather than receive Christmas presents. And a few even took matters into their own hands!
Good with Greeting Cards
Seven-year-old Kavya saw the devastation on the news and decided to make greeting cards. After selling hundreds of them, her parents were able to make a $1,000 donation in Kavya’s name.
School Spirit
The Wayzata Public School District in Minnesota put out kettles at some of their elementary schools for Camp Fire relief. In one day, they were able to raise $1,591 from caring students.
Our Online Donors Speak We were humbled by how many people went online to give. Your compassion spoke loud and clear.
"Instead of giving Christmas gifts, we wish to donate to the survivors who have lost everything. We trust The Salvation Army to do the best job for everyone. May God bless all those affected!"
"My family had to evacuate, but we were fortunate enough to not have lost our home in the fire. We feel blessed and want to help the individuals and families that were not so fortunate."
"So appreciate all of the support you provided to the people of Paradise. I have seen the great work you’ve done in other California fires. Also appreciate the job training you provide."
- Gave $400
- Gave $250
- Gave $100
A Deeper Kind of Outreach In addition to the meals and other practical services The Salvation Army provides during disasters, we are also able to offer the presence of our officers, who are pastors trained in emotional and spiritual care. Cadet Jon Tollerud, a member of the Camp Fire Response Team, had a transformative experience. “Out in the ash, we found neighbors who didn’t know if each other had survived, having reunions. We would rejoice, cry and pray with them as they began to pick up the pieces of their possessions,” he said. “In these moments shared with both survivors and responders, I truly came to understand and appreciate the ministry of presence. There is no doubt in my mind that God works even when the world crumbles around us. If I had a doubt before my experience here, it is there no more.”
Your support is always vital. Although we help thousands of survivors each year, The Salvation Army does much more than help people in times of disaster. We maintain Community Centers throughout our region, providing family services, food, shelter, rehabilitation, career development, youth programs, and much more.
It’s because of generous donors like you that we are able to keep serving those who need us. If you would like to support The Salvation Army, make an online gift now at GoSalArmy.org. Or, call us at 888-390-2769 to discuss the type of gift that is right for you. Thank you!
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services provides one to two million disaster survivors and first responders with short- and long-term assistance each year in the U.S. For survivors of the historic Camp Fire, we were and are able to provide:
Immediate Emergency Response Meals, Snacks and Beverages Distribution Center for Essential Items Thanksgiving & Christmas Assistance Early Recovery Program Disaster Cleanup Transitional Housing Emotional and Spiritual Care
The Salvation Army Del Oro Division Serving Northern California & Northern Nevada
GoSalArmy.org . 916-563-3700 3755 N. Freeway Blvd . Sacramento, CA 95834