If you are looking to help our neighbors in the North Bay who have been impacted by devastating wildfires, consider supporting the efforts of Castro Valley residents who are organizing relief efforts. We also have some links to organizations based in the North Bay seeking donations.

Helping animals in need

“I grew up on Sonoma County, Sebastopol specifically,” Castro Valley resident Amy Furber Dobson said. “My sister and her family live in Santa Rosa and evacuated. They and two other families are staying with our mom in Sebastopol. My Dad is packed to leave if necessary. He lives in Cloverdale across the river from the Geyserville Fire.”

After calling the humane society, Dobson decided to organize a cat and dog food drive. She is seeking bags and cans of cat and dog food, particularly specialty food for animals with kidney issues. She is also looking for cat carriers. She will be bringing these supplies to Sonoma on Friday.

If you are interested in helping Amy you can text her 510-432-8362 or email here at amyafurber@yahoo.com.

Gathering clothing and pet food

Ari Huitzilopochtli is organizing a clothing and pet food drive for those displaced by the fires.

“I have friends, clients and a community up there,” she said. “Most and at this point have had to evacuate. Some have lost everything while some still are waiting to see if they still have home to go to. I hear the same thing, they only had minutes to get out. I couldn’t imagine. So, I just started asking what they needed and one thing lead to other.”

Huitzilopochtli is gathering wearable clothes, underwear, socks blankets, and cat and dog food. She will be delivering any donations on Saturday.

You can contact her at huitzilopochtli4@gmail.com to coordinate a porch pick up or delivery to her.

North Bay donation efforts

• Redwood Credit Union (RCU), in partnership with RCU Community Fund, The Press Democrat, and Senator Mike McGuire, is now accepting financial donations to aid relief efforts and assist victims of the 2017 North Bay fires: https://rcu-community-fund.squarespace.com/donate
• Sonoma County Animal Services is accepting donations of food and other supplies for animals at 1247 Century Ct. in Santa Rosa. They have a phone line for information and donations at 707-565-4406.
• The Napa Valley Community Foundation has a disaster relief fund you can contribute to http://www.napavalleycf.org/fire-donation-page/
  
• Community Foundation Sonoma County has created the Sonoma County Resilience Fund that will focus on the mid- to long-term tasks of recovery and rebuilding, which will include basic needs as well as longer term economic, health and social supports. To make a gift, go to https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1431417 or call 707-303-9620.