Local organizations accept donations for those affected by wildfires
Multiple nonprofits accepting donations; financial donations preferred due to limited space at donation sites
Local nonprofits are accepting donations to help those affected by the wildfires across Whitman County.
September 14, 2020
The United Way of Whitman County and other community partners are accepting financial donations for those affected by the fires in the county.
The United Way of Whitman County has been working with the Rosalia Lions Club and Assembly of God Church in Rosalia, said Eric Fejeran, executive director of United Way of Whitman County.
Fejeran said Pine City and Malden were most affected by the fires that occurred Sept. 7. About 80 percent of Malden was burned down, and there were some homes in Colfax that were burned down as well.
The fire relief fund was created Sept. 7. He said United Way is managing the relief fund at no cost.
The Colfax Eagles, a local nonprofit, reached out to the Moscow Eagles and asked the organization to be a collection center, said Patricia Baker, conductor for the auxiliary chapter of the Moscow Eagles.
She said the plan is to adopt specific families who lost their homes and let them go shopping for supplies they need.
The donation sites are now filled, so it is preferred people donate money, Fejeran said.
People displaced from their homes are staying at hotels, and they do not have a place to store their items, Baker said.
United Way will be working with others to see how to best disperse the funds to families, Fejeran said.
The Eagles in Lewiston, Moscow and Colfax are collecting donations, as well as Orofino and the Church of the Nazarene, Baker said.
The Moscow Eagles are open 4-9 p.m. every day and is located on the corner of North Main and A streets, Baker said.
The Colfax Eagles will be open every day from 5-10 p.m. to accept donations. People should pay attention to volunteer opportunities when cleanup efforts begin, Fejeran said.
There will be a meeting for long-term recovery on Tuesday in Malden, he said. The meeting will include people from the Red Cross, people affected by the fires and community partners involved in the relief effort.
“The need of money and shelter and housing is going to be long term for these folks,” Fejeran said.
People can donate on the fund’s website or purchase Visa gift cards and drop them off at any donation site.
Editor’s Notes: This article has been corrected. The wildfires began Sept. 7, not Aug. 7 as previously stated.
