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By Miriam Raftery
Drone video of West Fire devastation in Alpine: "Aftermath from above" by Joseph A. Acevedo, N6SIX
July 15, 2018 (Alpine) – People who want to help Alpine residents rebuild homes lost after the West Fire, and fill gaps that insurance companies and other agencies aren’t filling, can now make a tax deductible donation to the Alpine Community Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
A community recovery team will help the Foundation verify needs and resources. Money will pay bills directly, and will not be paid directly to individuals. Those in greatest need will receive help first. The Foundation is run by volunteers in the community, so no fees will be charged and 100% of donations will benefit fire survivors.
This is important for several reasons. While many survivors’ families have set up sites on Go Fund Me, donations made through that site are not tax deductible. While GoFundMe is useful in guaranteeing funds will go to a specific family, if you know someone who lost their home, some information may not be vetted on the site. (View GoFundMe sites for West Fire survivors.)
Well-known people in the community tend to receive the most donations on GoFundMe or through other means, while others tend to receive less even though their needs may be even greater—such as people without insurance, or those who are out of work or have major medical needs. Alpine Community Foundation aims to assure that no one receives favoritism and that funds wll be directed where they are most needed.
Checks can be mailed to the Alpine Community Foundation at 2065 Arnold Way, Suite 103, Alpine, CA 91901, or deposited at any California Bank and Trust location into the Alpine Community Foundation Account.
You can also drop off checks at the Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce office at 1620 Alpine Blvd., #208, Alpine, CA 91901.
Roger Garay, Lori Bledsoe, Jeff Morris and Jan Ryan Morse EA are all contacts for the Foundation.
The Foundation is also looking for volunteers and chairpersons for five committees: fundraising, donations, volunteering, adopt a family, and thanking first responders.
Photo, right: West Fire inferno, courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News.
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