FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melissa Baurer
Community Liaison Coordinator
Santiam Integration Team (SIT)
Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund
office: 503-769-9319
mbaurer@santiamhospital.org
Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund Offers Recovery Grants
$1,000 Grants Available to Homeowners Impacted by Beachie Creek Fire
(January 20, 2021) – Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund (SCWRF) is now accepting applications for Round One Recovery Grants. Homeowners who lost their primary residence in the September 2020 Beachie Creek Fire in the Santiam Canyon are eligible to apply for the $1,000 grants.
Applicants must meet all three eligibility requirements for Round One Recovery Grants:
1) Applicant must own residential property in the Santiam Canyon; 2) Residential property was a total loss to the Beachie Creek Fire; and, 3) Lost residential property was the primary residence of the applicant.
Subsequent SCWRF Recovery Grant Rounds will have broader eligibility requirements, allowing residents with varying degrees of property ownership to apply for direct funding. Information on future Recovery Grant opportunities will be released at a later date.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications for Round One Recovery Grants can be completed online at www.scwrf.org. (Scroll to the middle of the page and click on “How Do I Get Help?” and then select “Apply Here.”) For help or other inquiries regarding Round One Recovery Grants, call the SCWRF Grant Helpline at (503) 897-0379 or email scwrf@santiamhosptial.org.
HELP STILL AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS
For residents who are in need of immediate relief, the Santiam Hospital Service Integration Team (SIT) can help with housing, assist with FEMA applications and appeals, insurance claims, connect food, clothing and medical supplies, accessing Disaster Resource Centers and connecting with volunteers to aid in property clean up. For assistance, contact SIT at 503-769-9319 or email sitmobile@santiamhospital.org.
HOW TO DONATE
To help those affected by the wildfires that ravaged the Santiam Canyon, donations can be made to the Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Contributions can be made online at www.scwrf.org; in-kind donations of goods and services are also needed. For more information, visit www.scwrf.org.
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ABOUT THE SANTIAM CANYON WILDFIRE RELIEF FUND
The Santiam Canyon Wildfire Relief Fund (SCWRF) was established in September 2020 in the immediate aftermath of the Lionshead and Beachie Creek wildfires. The purpose of the fund is to support residents of the Santiam Canyon by providing immediate relief, supporting the recovery and clean up, and assisting with rebuilding efforts in the communities of Idanha, Breitenbush, Niagara, Detroit, Gates, Mill City, Lyons, and Mehama, Oregon. As of January 2021 nearly $3 million has been raised. The distribution of funds is overseen by the SCWRF Advisory Committee in partnership with the Santiam Hospital’s Service Integration team (SIT); 100% of contributions will be distributed to Santiam Canyon residents until the fund is exhausted.
SCWRF Advisory Committee
Cindy Chauran, Community Volunteer
Maggie Hudson, Member Ex-Officio, CEO Santiam Hospital
Deana Freres, Community Volunteer
Mike Stair, Gates Community Church of Christ
Todd Reeser, Santiam Canyon School District
Jimmy Jones, Mid Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
Troy Gulstrom, Mehama Community Church
Rhonda Wolf, United Way of Mid-Willamette Valley
Ed Diehl, Knights of Columbus, Santiam Hospital Board of Directors
Colleen Bradford, Department of Human Services
Nicole McIntyre, Columbia Bank
Christina Hoeckle, Linn Benton Lincoln ESD