United Way Sets Up Jesusita Fire Recovery Fund

United Way of Santa Barbara County has established the Jesusita Fire Long-Term Recovery Fund to address the long-term needs of residents displaced by the fire. Donated money will go toward helping those who have been affected rebuild their lives when the initial disaster response passes. The recovery fund will emulate the 1990/1991 Painted Cave Fire Fund and the 2008 Santa Barbara Tea Fire Response Fund, both of which raised enough money to make a difference for the recovery process.

Paul Didier, president and CEO of United Way Santa Barbara County, said in a press release that he anticipates an outpouring of generosity from the Santa Barbara community. “Local agencies are stretched to respond to the immediate needs of this extreme disaster; however, if history has shown us anything, there will be a long road ahead for many individuals and families to recover from this devastation,” Didier said. “The generosity of the Santa Barbara community toward our neighbors has always been overwhelming, and we believe it will be the same for this tragic disaster.”

Donations can be sent to Jesusita Fire Long Term Recovery Fund, c/o United Way of Santa Barbara County, 320 E. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101. If you have questions about the fund or need more information, visit unitedwaysb.org or call (805) 965-8591.

If you’d like to volunteer to help with fire response, visit volunteersbc.org. Volunteer coordinators request that potential volunteers wait for further information before making any efforts to self-deploy.