Western Wildfire Relief: Together We Can Help

Update: On Sept. 28, we met our fundraising goal to support those impacted by recent Western wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington, but the work of recovery and rebuilding will go on for months and years. To learn more about how to do your part to reduce wildfires, check out this advice from our partner Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

As we huddle in our homes, looking out at a Martian sky and trying to block out the smell of smoke flooding through our walls, our hearts go out to all of the Western communities experiencing another massive and destructive fire season.

Fueled by high winds, low humidity, and the end of a long dry summer, about 40 fires are burning on all sides of our headquarters in Portland, Oregon, through the towns and forests of western Oregon and southwestern Washington. Oregon Governor Kate Brown notes that this will likely turn out to be the most deadly, costly, and widest-reaching fire event the state has ever seen. Washington Governor Jay Inslee echoes the same, noting that more Washington acreage burned in the past 24 hours than in 12 of the past 18 fire seasons. And, for weeks, California has been battling significant and deadly wildfires from north to south, with massive amounts of smoke filling the Bay Area.

Thankfully, there is an amazing network of non-profit and volunteer organizations that are helping to provide immediate relief to survivors and evacuees of fire disaster. As we have done in fire seasons past, we are partnering again with local United Way chapters to serve hard-hit communities in California, Oregon, and Washington through their efficient and ethical models of local service and relief.

Starting today, we will be donating 1% of our global sales from keenfootwear.com, up to a total of $30,000, to the following relief programs:

United Way Bay Area’s Greater Bay Area Central Coast Wildfire Relief Fund – Donations will be applied to immediate and long-term recovery assistance for residents of the Bay Area, Wine Country, Monterey County, and Santa Cruz County. Those affected by the wildfires will be served with an initial focus on housing and cash assistance to displaced families and other identified immediate needs.

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette’s Wildfire Response and Recovery Fund -– UWCW is working with nonprofit partners in the Portland metro area and southwestern Washington to prioritize families of color affected by the fires, providing them with immediate relief assistance. Our donation will help provide displaced families with access to food, shelter, childcare, healthcare and other critical services.

The fires are still burning and the need is still growing. And together is always the best way to make a bigger difference. Thanks for any additional support you can give these organizations, and we hope you and your family stay safe.