The death toll from fires in the North Bay rose to 31 on Thursday night, according to the Press Democrat.

As the impact of the fire spreads in Sonoma and Napa Counties, Castro Valley residents continue their efforts to provide emergency aid and relief.

“My entire Subaru is full, every inch. I now have to drive my husband’s truck.”

Castro Valley resident Amy Furber Dobson has been collecting donations to bring to her native Sonoma County on Friday.  “My entire Subaru is full, every inch,” she said. “I now have to drive my husband’s truck.”

Amy is looking beyond the fires, and is thinking about how to help residents as they begin to rebuild their lives. “I’d really like to figure out how people can help as time goes along. Once the fires stop that’s when people can move into temporary housing and will need things.”

If you would like to help Amy, she is still accepting gift cards in small amounts. Text her at 510-432-8362 or email her at amyafurber@yahoo.com.

Concerns for undocumented people who need help

As I wrote yesterday, Ari Huitzilopochtli, was collecting clothing and pet food. “I’ve had a great response however the latest is that many shelters are turning away donations,” Ari said. “This is going to be a long process so I’m telling people to hold on to their things, it will get used.”

Ari is turning her efforts to support undocumented people who have been impacted by the fires. “A lot of the undocumented people are not coming to get help for fear of deportation,” Ari said. “I have a contact with someone who is working with them to see if we can get them what they need as well.”

CVHS baseball player whose house burnt down in 2010 raising funds

Colby Wright, a 2012 Castro Valley High School graduate who was captain of the University of Kansas baseball and played for the Cincinnati Reds organization, knows something about coping with the loss of home. His Castro Valley home burnt down in 2010.

“I know the short-term needs and the long-term needs,” Colby said. That is why he, along with his friends Luke Huerta and Nick Lima, are developing a multi-pronged approach to raise funds for fire victims.

For now, they have started GoFundMe page to address the immediate needs of victims. “The funds will be used to buy just basic physical supplies for the victims to initially get them back on their feet,” according to their page.

When his house burnt down, Colby said that clothing was his most immediate need. After the fire, victims will need money to rebuild because “insurance doesn’t cover it all,” he said. It took three years for his Castro Valley house to be completely rebuilt. “It was not fun living in a home office with my sister and parents all in the living room,” he said.

North Bay fundraising, donation efforts

• Redwood Credit Union (RCU), in partnership with RCU Community Fund, The Press Democrat, and Senator Mike McGuire, have established the North Bay Fire Relief Fund you can make an online donation here: https://rcu-community-fund.squarespace.com/donate. On Friday, the Fund will be having a “Drive Up and Donate” event in downtown Santa Rosa from 4 to 6 p.m, the Press Democrat reports. Checks and cash donations to the North Bay Fire Relief Fund may be dropped off from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Rattigan State Building, located at 50 D Street on Friday.
• 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.