As wildfires have impacted our region, Waters Meet has focused our attention on supporting the grassroots, by-and-for organizations working most closely with impacted communities. We believe these organizations that are deeply invested in their communities are best positioned to provide effective and responsive care.
We have granted more than $145,000 to over 30 organizations and community-led efforts. This funding has supported a broad range of relief efforts including: food and water distribution, hygiene and infant care supplies, air filter workshops, gas and gift cards, and much more.
As a staff, we created and distributed a list of 45 grassroots organizations in our region directly serving communities and working on wildfire response. This resource was a response to community members and other funders seeking direct access to the organizations working most closely with impacted communities.
Waters Meet staff and leadership have connected with organizations with experience in wildfire recovery beyond our community to learn more about equitable recovery strategies. We have also been connecting with local government and nonprofit leaders to strategize and share ways to support impacted communities. In collaboration with our community partners, we are exploring how we can use our resources to support recovery efforts — with special attention to persistently marginalized communities who are often excluded from mainstream disaster response efforts.
We are in this work for the long haul and will continue to support an equitable recovery from the devastating fires impacting our region.