How to help the fire victims and firefighters in CO:

Here are some of the ways:
--As of 5:10 a.m. on Wednesday, the Cheyenne Mountain High School shelter was asking for ice, work gloves, welding gloves/high gloves to protect arms while taking care of animals, animal collars and leashes at the school at 1200 W. Cheyenne Rd. Volunteer veterinarians are also appreciated. Please call 719-444-7919 before you go to verify these items are still needed.

--Rocky Mountain Healthcare Services is opening up their building for people who need a place to stay with their pets. Call 719-641-2747 and ask for Julie. www.rmhcare.org . Also if you would like to donate items, they are in current need for towels, shampoo, soap and food.
-- Red Cross. The American Red Cross is operating shelters; feeding victims, firefighters and volunteers snacks and meals; offering counseling; and offering assistance to victim's whose homes are no longer standing. The Red Cross is asking for donations to its Disaster Relief Fund. You can earmark those donations to a specific disaster. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. To donate call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). To contribute online go to www.redcross.org. You can text a $10.00 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999.
-- Salvation Army. The Salvation Army is providing food, food boxes, clothing and other support to victims and first responders. The Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services Canteen has been providing meals to first responders and victims of the victims for weeks. In 12 days time, volunteers served 3,300 meals, 6,000 cold beverages, and more than 4,000 snacks at the High Park Fire. The Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Fort Collins is providing clothing and food boxes to evacuees in need. The Salvation Army’s Loveland Service Extension Unit is at the Disaster Recovery Center providing gift cards to evacuees to enable them to purchase basic essentials. The Salvation Army's Emotional, Spiritual Care team members have also provided a listening ear to evacuees. Donations can be made online at www.imsalvationarmy.org or over the phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). We ask that checks be made payable to "The Salvation Army" and clearly marked "disaster relief" or labeled with the name of the disaster response you are supporting (e.g. "Colorado Wild Fire&quot . Checks should be mailed to The Salvation Army, 1370 Pennsylvania Street, Denver, CO 80203
-- Goodwill is taking donations for evacuees and will distribute as needed. More info: www.discovermygoodwill.org
-- The Pikes Peak Humane Society asks that you consider monetary donations at hsppr.org. They are in need of animal kennels. They could also use bottled water for staff and volunteers.
-- The Larimer Humane Society has been carrying for evacuated animals in Northern Colorado. They need monetary donations (www.larimerhumane.org/donate/), dry dog and cat food, and soft and hard dog treats.
-- The Norris Penrose Equestrian Center at 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd in Colorado Springs and The Ranch in Loveland need bales of grass hay for the evacuated horses and livestock.
-- Care and Share at 2605 Preamble Point in Colorado Springs is taking food and non-perishables, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
-- Some incident command posts will take donations of unopened bottled water and Gatorade only. Do not bring food and other items.
-- If you would like to donate food, be aware that firefighters are fed by a caterer who provides them with the calories and nutritional requirements they need to work the conditions on the fire line. Please contact your local fire department and/or volunteer fire department for their specific needs such as non-perishable foods and bottled drinks.
--If you want to offer housing to High Park Fire (Ft Collins) victims who are still evacuated, visit this website: http://cohighparkfirehousing.org/
If you want more options, go online to www.helpcoloradonow.org and register. Although the website states "High Park Fire," your names and contact information will be referenced for the Waldo Canyon fire.
Many groups say they don't have the space to store the donations, they don't have the volunteers to sort your donations and the fire victims want to buy what they want. However, a representative from COVOAD (Colorado Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster) is on her way down to Colorado Springs to organize a collection site and to organize staffing necessary to collect and disperse donated items in an organized manner to help those in need.
For the High Park Fire, a donations center has been set up at the former Mervyn's space in Foothills Mall, 215 E. Foothills Parkway, Fort Collins, 80525. Open daily from 9am to 7pm, it is accepting batteries, new underwear and socks, furniture, water jugs, chain saws and other items. See the full list: http://www.helpcoloradonow.org/
Don't forget the volunteer firefighters who need donations to buy equipment, pay for gas, and some -- to rebuild their fire stations after they were burned down. Some of the volunteer firefighting groups to consider for your donations:
Northeast Teller County Fire Protection District - http://www.netellerfire.org/
Green Mountain Falls Chipita Park Fire Department: http://www.gmfcpfd.org/
Boulder Rural Fire Department: http://www.brfd.org/
Allenspark Fire Department: http://www.allensparkfire.com/homepage.html
Glacier View Fire - www.glacierviewfiredept.com
Rist Canyon Fire - www.rcvfd.org
Poudre Canyon Fire - www.poudre-fire.org


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