UPDATE on FIRE RELIEF AUG 19

August 19, 2021

After nearly a year since the Almeda and Obenchain fires, the Fire Relief Center at Shoppes at Exit 24 in Phoenix is closing. The last day open to the public is Saturday, August 21. However, this is not an end to Rogue Climate’s commitment to directly supporting fire survivors and organizing to bring our neighbors home, take action on climate, and build communities that are resilient when climate disasters hit.

Can you volunteer to wrap up the Fire Relief Center, or help serve meals through September?

The Fire Relief Center became a central hub that grew out of many relief centers organized by community members and organizations across the Valley in the immediate aftermath of the fires. The Center has made a big impact on the lives of fire survivors in the Rogue Valley, including:

• Supported 450 to 800 households every week with food and supplies.
• Volunteers worked more than 10,000 hours.
• Over $100,000 of supplies donate by the community to fire survivors through the Fire Relief Site.
• Connected fire survivors to Disaster Case Managers for additional guidance through the recovery process moving forward.
• Fostered connections between fire survivors, as a meeting place to find each other or share resources, tips for recovery, and emotional support.
• Financially supported fire survivors getting back on their feet through visa gift cards, rent and housing support through Rogue Climate and SO Health-e, and support applying for grants.

None of this work would have been possible without the incredible volunteers, donors, and our partners at Rogue Action Center, SO Health-e, Rogue Food Unites, ACCESS, Living Waters Church, the Rogue Valley Relief Fund, the Phoenix-Talent School District, and so many more. Thank you! Rogue Climate is committed to supporting our neighbors and our community through fire recovery in the long term. Here are a few events this September where the Fire Relief Center will be distributing supplies for fire survivors:

Fire Survivor Supplies Pop-Up
Time and Location: TBD
Stay tuned for more information via email and online here.

Meals will continue at the Fire Relief Center until August 31. Starting Wednesday, September 1 free lunch and dinner for fire survivors will be served every day at the 1st Phoenix Presbyterian Church (2nd & Church St.) To stay up to date about resources for fire survivors, supply events, and volunteer opportunities, please follow Rogue Climate on social media or follow this webpage.

For anyone in the community seeking groceries, clothing, or household goods, the Teresa McCormick Center and Phoenix Community Center offer free goods to the community, including for fire survivors. Both locations are accepting donations.

This incredible community effort is an example of what can happen in the Rogue Valley to respond to climate disasters and other crises. Again, thanks to everyone who dedicated time and heart to the Fire Relief Center. Let’s continue to build a community that shows up to support each other, even in the hardest of times.

Onward, The Rogue Climate Team