How to help Santa Rosa and Napa

Edit: This link leads to the most comprehensive collection of ways to help that I’ve seen. Give it a look, please.

Santa Rosa was where my grandparents lived. It’s where I watched Barry Bonds twirl against Chan Ho Park. It’s where my family and I were considering living when we started looking for a home. It’s a beautiful part of the Bay Area, and I can’t get over the pictures and videos of what has happened there.

The homepage of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat is ... it’s incomprehensibly awful right now. Words fail.

Here’s how you can help. I’m getting a lot of this information from SF Gate and the Sacramento Bee, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to put this up here, too. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

• If you’re able to donate goods, here’s a list of what’s needed, as well as drop-off locations. The Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds is the largest hub, and everything from tents to baby food would help, although I’ve read that bedding for shelters is something of a priority.
• If you’re able to donate time, the CVNL has a procedure in place for potential volunteers. There is also a link for monetary donations at the site.
• The Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds is serving as an evacuation center, and they’re looking for volunteers
• The Redwood Food bank is looking for volunteers.
• This Facebook page is serving as a hub for people who are both offering and needing help.
• According to SF Gate, the city of Santa Rosa is not in need of volunteers, so they’re recommending volunteering with the Red Cross. While donating to the Red Cross has come under scrutiny because of high administration costs, volunteering would still be a way to help.
• Here’s a list of evacuation centers, as well as hotels offering discounted rates.
• If you need information about fires that are still burning, here is the federal government’s situation map.
• Wine Country Animal Lovers is accepting donations, and they’re helping with displaced pets.
• If you’re able to provide housing, Airbnb is coordinating with volunteers.
• Faith Tattoo is holding a fundraiser that’s sending 100 percent of the profits to victims of the fires.
• Love on Haight is accepting donations and sending trucks to deliver them. Click the link to see what they are requesting.
• Here is a GoFundMe for supplies
• This post makes a good point: When in doubt, donate gift cards.

If you have suggestions for what to include here, please let me know in the comments. Good luck, and stay safe.