As we all
know by now, several neighborhoods in both Southern and Northern California
have been ravaged by fires. Over 100,000 acres burned, over 9,000 homes
destroyed, over 70 lives lost, hundreds unaccounted for, and hundreds of
families displaced and left homeless and hopeless. As we near the Thanksgiving
holiday, let’s take a moment to remember to be kind to our neighbors and help in
any way we can.
Donate If you are able to and feel inclined
to do so, please consider donating to those in need. Money, food
(non-perishable), water, toiletries, baby supplies, new and like-new clothing,
bedding, and other basic living essentials are needed for those who have
lost all of their belongings along with their homes. There are several
organizations that are collecting funds and other items to disperse directly to
those affected and in need. Additionally, our first responders and fire fighters are in need of water and supplies, as they tirelessly and selflessly fight the fires to save lives and property,
Host Again, if you have the means to,
please consider opening up your home to one of the thousands of families who
are in need of shelter. Airbnb has set up a disaster relief program to offer
free, temporary housing to the fire victims. If you live close to the devastation and your home was not damaged, maybe you
can let a neighbor stay with you until they figure out their next steps
with housing. If your accommodations don’t allow you to take in another family,
maybe you can invite them over for Thanksgiving dinner. So many families now
have nowhere to celebrate the holidays, and will be so
appreciative for a home-cooked meal with new friends.
Help If you or someone you know has lost
their home or business in the fires, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. So many of us are
happy to lend a hand in any way we can. Visit the sites listed above for relief
in the form of money, food, clothing and temporary housing. If you need to find
more stable housing while sorting everything out, please feel free to reach out
to me or any real estate agent or broker you know for assistance in longer term leasing options. Your
insurance will pay for your rent or lease during this time, so we can help get
you into a home as quickly as possible. Make sure you have already contacted
your insurance company to start a claim and that you have a claim or case
number. Document all your expenses and keep track of all your receipts. This
is a difficult time for so many, but there is a lot of help and hope being offered
by our friends, neighbors and communities.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and lots of healing for those who have lost so much.
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