Tea and Sympathy Continues
Aid and Charity Keep Flowing in the Wake of the Tea Fire
During this Thanksgiving holiday, those whose homes were lost or damaged in the Tea Fire can take solace in the fact that more than a few area organizations are trying to ease this difficult time. Additionally, those who feel some generosity to spare or karma points to earn can still help, as many of the below organizations are still seeking donations in the form of money, food, furniture, or personal items. (Check before you attempt to drop off, however, as certain charities only want certain items.) The below list of aid opportunities is not complete, as organizations are always seeking donations or volunteers. Send any further Tea Fire aid opportunities to news@independent.com.
Online Community: Web site teafire.ning.com has been established to help Tea Fire victims connect, share information, and get help.
Unity Shoppe: Accepting cash and new clothes currently, and furniture donations after Christmas. Call 866-2323 or visit unityshoppe.org.
Salvation Army: Accepting cash and seeking volunteers for aid efforts. Call 684-6099 or visit www.salvationarmy.org/santabarbara.
Red Cross: Running service centers at 2201 Laguna Street and 671 Cold Spring Road. Seeking cash donations and volunteers for future disasters. Visit sbredcross.org.
El Montecito Presbyterian Church: Accepting cash and clothing, which can be delivered to 1455 East Valley Road. Call 969-5401 or email church@elmopres.org.
Santa Barbara Foundation: Partnering with United Way, but accepting donations at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust at 20 East Carrillo Street.
Santa Barbara Humane Society: Located at 5399 Overpass Road and sheltering animals that lost their homes. Coordinating with Santa Barbara County Animal Services and seeking animal food, blankets, collars, etc. Call 964-4777.
Santa Barbara Yoga Center: Not seeking donations, but offering clothing and personal, bedroom, and bath items for the needy at 32 East Micheltorena Street. Visit santabarbarayogacenter.com or stop by between 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Also, the center is organizing a free healing and massage clinic for fire victims and firefighters on December 7, from 12:30-6 p.m.
Drs. Neal and Nicole Barry: Offering complimentary chiropractic care for victims of the Tea Fire through the end of November. Call 201-2909 or visit sbchiropractic.com.
S.B. Community Health Outreach Project: A network of health practitioners provide discounted services to Tea Fire victims and emergency personnel who dealt with the disaster. Call 729-5563 or email sbchop@gmail.com.
Prudential California Realty: Offering its computers, phones, and fax for fire victims’ use, and listings of rentals and moving, hauling, and storage services. 3868 State Street.
TechEase: Offering wireless Internet, computers, and data recovery service free of charge for Tea Fire victims. Call 564-3273 or visit techease.com.
UCSB Counseling: Offering three free sessions through February 1. Call 893-8064.
The Lack Challenge: David Lack of Lack Construction vows to match contributions of up to $10,000 for the Red Cross. Donate at the Bank of Santa Barbara (12 E. Figueroa St.).
The Lance and Carla Burn Fund: Benefiting burn victims Lance and Carla Hoffman. Donations accepted at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust (1483 E. Valley Rd., Montecito). Call 969-7711 or visit sbbt.com.
Mountain Drive Community Association: Offering various forms of assistance, from cleanup to legal advice. Looking for volunteers. Visit mountaindrivecommunityassociation.org.
Home Depot at Camino Real Marketplace: Offering wildfire cleanup clinics on November 29, December 6, and December 13 at 2 p.m. Visit homedepotclinics.com.
Santa Barbara County Bar Association: Offering advice on Tea Fire-related legal issues. Call 569-5511 or email sblawmag@verizon.net.
