Five years after the Labor Day fires devastated parts of Oregon, 11 nonprofits are receiving new funding to help recovery and preparedness efforts.
According to the Oregon Community Foundation, today, they have announced $120,000 in new grants from its Disaster Readiness and Response Fund will support the seven Oregon counties affected by the fires: Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Linn and Marion.
The fund was created in response to the 2020 wildfires, providing rapid-response grants for immediate recovery and supporting preparedness programs. An earlier fund to support wildfire recovery after the 2020 fires distributed $10.8 million over several years.
The Labor Day fires that began on September 7, 2020 were fueled by high winds and dry conditions, resulting in 1.2 million acres burned, more than 4,000 homes destroyed and 11 deaths. The fires had major impacts in the Santiam Canyon, the McKenzie River corridor and the Rogue Valley.
The funding reflects the continued impact of the Almeda Fire in southern Oregon. Grants will support nonprofits that continue to help survivors, including Talent Maker City, Rogue Food Unites, Firebrand Resiliency Collective, Coalición Fortaleza and United Way of Jackson County.
You can learn more and donate to the Disaster Readiness and Response Fund at www.oregoncf.org.
