How You Can Help the Victims of the California Wildfires

Traditionally, the holiday season is associated with shopping, family gatherings, and receiving gifts. However, the season is also about helping those less fortunate than you by making a donation to a worthy cause.

If you’re looking for a good cause to support this holiday season, you might want to consider helping the victims and first responders who suffered from the recent California wildfires.

In fact, Northern California’s Camp Fire, which was just contained last week, claimed more lives and structures than any other fire in the state’s history. Therefore the survivors, many of whom lost their homes, will need help rebuilding both their communities and lives.

If you’re interested in helping those victims and survivors, you can do so by making a donation through one of the links listed below.

• International Association of Fire Fighters Foundation
  This fund provides financial assistance to members living in disaster areas who have also experienced losses of their own.

• American Red Cross
  Donations will help those communities and families that have been left reeling from the deadly wildfires. You can also donate by calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

• Humane Society of Ventura County
  Donations made will go to their general fund to best serve all the evacuee animals currently at the shelter for safe refuge.

• Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation
  The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Foundation is asking that donations go to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. Donations given will help those families of firefighters injured or killed in the line of duty.

• North Valley Community Foundation
  Donations made to the Camp Fire Relief Fund will assist the many community organizations serving evacuees and first responders.

• Fire Relief Fund — Entertainment Industry Foundation
  Donations made to this charity will benefit the firefighters and first responders who risked their lives to protect the people of California.

• GoFundMe — California Wildfires
  From animals that were displaced to people who lost everything, GoFundMe has several campaigns running to help those effected by the California wildfires.

Have You Ever Considered Becoming an EMT or Firefighter? 

If you would enjoy being an EMT or firefighter, perhaps you should consider applying to Hocking College in Nelsonville, OH. Hocking College offers three programs that fall within these industries, including:

• Fire & Emergency Medical Services
• EMT/Paramedic Certificate
• Firefighter Certificate

Anyone interested in enrolling in Hocking College’s EMT program should contact the Program Manager, Robert Cornwell, by email at cornwellr@hocking.edu or by phone at (740) 753-6476.

For more information about the Fire program, contact the Fire Sciences Program Manager Rick Best by email at bestr35625@hocking.edu or by phone at (740) 753-6493.