Embers from the devastating Carr Fire were still glowing when donations began pouring in for recovery efforts with the largest clearinghouse for those contributions, the Shasta Regional Community Foundation, reporting a total of $3.5 million at week’s end, with more on the way.
“The amazing response of donations coming from within and beyond our region is humbling,” said Kerry Caranci, the foundation’s CEO.
Kerry Caranci
The contributions are assigned to the foundation’s Community Disaster Relief Fund and will be used to support nonprofit groups and public agencies that have a defined role in short-and long-term recovery programs, Caranci added.
The foundation on Friday announced that Northern Valley Catholic Social Service has been awarded the first Carr Fire-related grant: a $50,000 check to assist survivors with utility deposits and help with rent. “Now that most emergency needs have been met in the wake of the Carr Fire, we are moving into a new stage of recovery where needs such as rental assistance and utility deposit assistance are key,” said Cathy Wyatt, executive director of NVCSS.
Organizers and sponsors of the ‘A New Day, A New Dawn’ benefit concert present a check.
“With our long-standing history of providing such services to members of our community, we know we can help survivors of the Carr Fire in a very tangible way. Our strong relationship with the Community Foundation together with the opportunities made possible by their Community Disaster Relief Fund will benefit many,” Wyatt said in a prepared statement.
Survivors looking to access this opportunity should call 530-247-3352 or email cpenn@nvcss.org
Organizations interested in applying for grants to fund recovery programs should visit the foundation at www.shastarcf.org or call (530) 244-1219. Caranci said the foundation is putting together a panel of community members to help vet the requests with the aim of making the funding process “as community-based, cohesive and collaborative as possible.”
Caranci emphasized that the Carr Fire recovery is already underway, thanks to the efforts of city, county, state and federal officials and an army of volunteers. “The fire might be 100 percent contained but it took a significant amount of work by the city, the county and other organizations. It’s going to be a marathon but a lot has been accomplished already and we need to acknowledge that and give grace.”
Redding Bank of Commerce, Sierra Pacific Industries and United Airlines are among the larger organizations to mount fundraising campaigns to support the Community Disaster Relief Fund, but money has also poured in from a variety of others, including Redding native and professional soccer player Megan Rapinoe, the rock band Styx (whose bassist, Ricky Phillips, grew up in Redding), and Results Radio, whose staffers organized a “change” drive that garnered $16,000 in pocket change from listeners in Redding, Chico and Sacramento.
The more localized, and often spontaneous drives, have been just as heartfelt. They include the owners of five local breweries—Wildcard, Fall River, Woody’s, Final Draft and Cedar Crest—who collaborated on a special one-time ale, called Shasta Strong IPA, that sold like hotcakes.
Cans of Shasta Strong IPA flew off store shelves. The project raised more than $30,000 for recovery efforts.
Kegs of the exceptionally tasty brew were tapped out in no time at taprooms, bars and restaurants in the Redding area and four-packs of 16-ounce cans moved off of store shelves in distressingly short order.
The project started with a conversation between Jeff and Jenny Hansen, owners of Wildcard Brewing; John and Amanda Hutchings, owners of Fall River Brewing; and Scott Wlodarczyk, the sales and marketing guy at Woody’s Brewing. Soon after, Adam Ward and Bart Hauptman at Final Draft Brewing and Mark Livingston, head brewer at Cedar Crest in Red Bluff, joined in the effort.
All of the proceeds from Shasta Strong sales are heading to the Community Disaster Relief Fund. Jenny Hansen proudly announced on Friday that the total contribution will exceed $30,000.
Janis Logan and Janelle Pierson also stepped up to produce “A New Dawn, A New Day,” a benefit concert at the Cascade Theatre that raised $19,500 for Carr Fire survivors. The show was originally going to be a house concert featuring The Jellyman’s Daughter, a duo from Scotland, but the fire interrupted those plans. The musicians insisted on playing anyway and wanted their performance to be a benefit.
A larger venue was secured (Old City Hall) and then more artists wanted to give of their talents so Jefferson Live, operators of the Cascade Theatre, offered up that downtown landmark. Performers included Redding’s own Scott Joss; singer-songwriter Megan Slankard; folk musician Keith Greeninger; and Dirty Cello, a raucous quartet led by crossover cellist Rebecca Roudman.
Other concerts are ready to join in as well. All of the net proceeds from the two-day Redd Sun Festival at the Civic Auditorium on Sept. 29-30 will be donated to the Carr Fire relief fund, along with $5 from every ticket sold. Net proceeds, ticket purchases and artist contributions could amount to a $200,000 donation if the festival is sold out, organizers said.
Graham Nash, who is performing Oct. 3 at the Cascade Theatre, has pledged a $15,000 contribution and has promised to buy $5,000’ worth of tickets for Carr Fire survivors through www.iloveredding.com.
Kris Kristofferson will join Scott Joss and other members of the Strangers, the late Merle Haggard’s band, for a benefit concert on Oct. 27 at the Cascade. Haggard’s son, Bennie, also will perform.
