Wildfire disasters strike suddenly and people in affected areas are often required to grab what they can and flee. The economic impacts of sudden evacuations can be crippling.
There are several sources for immediate fundraising needs for the evacuees of the Alexander Mountain, Quarry and Stone Canyon fires. Among them is a centralized GoFundMe site set up specifically for Coloradans who need financial help right away due to forest fires.
Verified fundraisers can set up a GoFundMe account to collect donations for specific needs at its Colorado Wildfire Relief Hub.
Once the fund has been approved, those wishing to donate can go to the hub and select among different funding opportunities.
GoFundMe provides a giving guarantee for a full refund of donations “in the rare case something isn’t right.”
"Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the recent wildfires in Colorado. At GoFundMe, we are working around the clock to ensure the community receives the support they need,” a GoFundMe spokesperson told The Denver Gazette in a statement. “To make it easier for people who want to help those affected, GoFundMe has launched a centralized hub housing all verified fundraisers related to the wildfires. Our dedicated crisis team will continue to update the hub with more fundraisers as they are verified by our Trust & Safety team."
As of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, $31,437 has been raised for five funding requests.
Joshua Ciardullo of Wellington organized a fundraiser for two horses from the Sylvan Dale Ranch injured when the floorboards on a volunteer’s trailer broke, causing severe injuries to the horse’s rear legs. Both horses were transported to the Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital for emergency surgery.
Cherilyn Cornwell organized a fundraiser to help rebuild shelters and barns for the family’s livestock that burned in the Stone Canyon fire.
Megan Garcia Otero organized a fundraiser on behalf of Stacy Carmichael and her family to assist with evacuation expenses including food, clothing and lodging.
The Combat Recovery Foundation organized a fundraiser for the Sylvan Dale back country retreat center for the Heart-J suicide prevention center.
Joshua King organized a fundraiser for the Stoney River Lodge to help defray lost revenue caused by the evacuations.
“GoFundMe gives people a way to make a meaningful difference for the causes and communities that are most important, urgent, and relevant to them and society,” according to the organization’s web page.
The Red Cross also has a page dedicated to fundraising highlighting six platforms including the Red Cross, Tiltify, Instagram, Facebook, GoFundMe, and Tik Tok where online fundraisers can be created.
According to the Red Cross, as of midnight last night, three shelters across the region housed 61 evacuees. The shelters remain open. Shelters are located at:
• Foundations Church, 1380 Denver Ave., Loveland.
• Estes Park Event Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park.
• Dakota Ridge High School, 13399 W. Coal Mine Ave, Littleton.
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