CHICO — In addition to providing free meals all week to Camp Fire evacuees and first responders, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has set up a Camp Fire relief fund and seeded it with an initial $100,000 donation.
While many fundraising efforts are focused on the here and now, the company is focusing on long-term support for survivors. Once the fire is out, the company will distribute the money to partner organizations that will work to rebuild the community.
“We recognize that after the fire is no longer in the news, that’s when people really need support,” said Robin Gregory, company spokesperson.
Evacuees were provided with regular dining accommodations on Tuesday in the brewery restaurant.
Dallas Jefferdes, a 27-year-old Paradise resident, was one of about a dozen people — many of whom were evacuees — waiting outside the brewery to grab a free meal at lunchtime. A few first responders were spotted heading into the restaurant as well.
Jefferdes has been sleeping in a friend’s trailer or his car for the past few nights. He already knows he lost his home, in the town where he grew up.
“I’m not sure exactly what to do,” Jefferdes said. “Living day to day.”
He was catching up with his friend, Kyle Willis, a 30-year-old Paradise resident, who he ran into at the brewery. Willis expects his house is gone but is holding out hope. He evacuated as soon as he made sure friends and family had made it out OK.
He said the 2008 fires were “nothing” compared to this.
Willis said he is currently living off of donations, staying in a tent trailer at the Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, and that he has received several offers for work already. He said his job as a custom home builder was based out of Paradise.
“I literally left with the clothes on my back,” he said, adding that he had left behind all of his tools.
Willis found out about the free food being offered by Sierra Nevada from social media.
Friends Margot Bunch and Sheri McVey from Paradise got word from a family friend who works at the brewery. Since evacuating, they have been staying in the Sacramento area and driving back into Butte County to deliver donations every day since Friday.
McVey said it was incredible to see companies like Sierra Nevada stepping up to help fire victims.
“I can’t express how much that’s been needed,” she said. “When we go to Walmart, we see entire families — children, adults, babies — sleeping on the concrete. It’s cold outside. It’s smoky. It’s horrific conditions.”
The fire has destroyed at least 7,600 homes and resulted in evacuation orders for about 52,000 people.
The brewery has been accepting donations in its gift shop area but had given away all donated items by Tuesday afternoon.
The Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund is supported through Golden Valley Bank Community Foundation. To support the effort, go to goldenvalley.bank/Community-Foundation.aspx and select “Sierra Nevada Brewery.”
