CERF+ Responds to Disasters
2019 California Wildfires
2019 California Wildfires
According to CNN and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California has experienced their most deadly and destructive wildfires in the past two years. Longer drought periods, strong winds, and warmer temperatures have contributed to the increasing size and impact of these fires.
In 2019, more than 5,600+ fire incidents have burned 245,000+ acres in California. The Kincade Fire is 15% contained and has burned 75,000+ acres – making this California’s biggest fire of the year. In Southern California, firefighters are fighting the Getty Fire that has consumed over 600 acres on a hillside in West Los Angeles. A number of additional large fires are also tearing through the state including the Tick Fire, Caples Fire, Oak Fire, and Palisades Fire.
As disaster response and other agencies battle multiple wildfires across the state of California, CERF+ is getting ready to respond to an increase in applications for emergency financial assistance and recovery-related resources. We’re reaching out to the artists, arts organizations to let them know that we’ll be here for them before, during, and after the fires.
Additionally, we’re inviting our community of supporters and friends to join us in the response effort by making a donation to CERF+. In the past five years, CERF+ has provided more than 50 artists from California with close to $200,000 in emergency financial assistance and established a specific California Fund to help support these efforts.
If you would like to donate to the California Fund, simply follow this link to our secure online giving page and select please use my gift to help California artists working in craft disciplines from the drop-down menu. It’s easy to do and only takes a minute. The financial support we receive from our donors will allow us to help craft artists build back stronger after the fires are extinguished and the recovery begins.