Camp Fire Emergency Relief

In response to the devastating Camp Fire, UWNC has been on the front lines getting emergency cash grants to individuals who lost their home. To date, we have been able to directly help more than 8,000 individuals and families. This includes accepting an application, verifying information for and providing a check to those that get approved. This critical resource for survivors has been life changing and sometimes life saving as initially, financial resources were extremely scarce. In speaking with many of the survivors, this funding was being used for basic needs as well as relocation costs and rent/deposits on temporary shelter sites. We can not thank GlobalGiving enough for the impact their funding has made to individuals at their most difficult time. 

Here are a few stories from those who have recieved help for our agency:

The Gapuz family bought a house in Paradise, spent four years fixing it up and are devastated that now everything is gone. As soon as they got away from the fire, they were able to make it to the center and get help from UW. They received $500 and said it was a lifesaver. Leo was so grateful to UW for the money that he said “I just started crying wondering why they were so generous.”

The Laufer family lost both their home and business in the Camp Fire. Kerri said, “receiving help from UW took some pressure off of my mind as we were looking for a new place to call home. Another bright moment for us was participating in the back to school shopping spree for her girls. She said it was such a happy moment for her girls and they left feeling so special and happy that UW kept caring for us.”

In 1977, the Deppes family built a house on 7.5 acres that was their dream and retirement home. When the fire hit, they went to the center where UW was distributing funds. She said they were so caring and organized. “You don’t know in a stressful situation like this what you need but UW knows! They offered what they have and what they know bringing comfort to me and so many in my community”. She said.

Also, in January 2019 UWNC was able to take 130 students from Achieve Charter School in Paradise on a Back to School shopping spree at the Target in Chico. All particiapting students lost their home in the Camp Fire.