It has been a difficult summer for many in Colorado given the heat and drought, but wildfire victims are experiencing an entirely different level of trauma. Can you imagine losing your home and everything in it?
The has destroyed 346 homes, claimed two lives, and at one point 32,000 people were evacuated. Along with other fires — including , which destroyed 259 homes and left one person dead, and , which took three lives and 23 homes — it’s clear Colorado is experiencing a devastating fire season.
On this holiday, as we celebrate the independence and values of our nation, we hope Coloradans will consider ways of helping neighbors in distress.
Even a small donation can make a difference, especially if we all get involved. An easy, convenient way to give $10 to a relief fund is to text “fire” to 80000.
“Coloradans are at their best when they work together to help each other in difficult times,” said Hickenlooper. “We’ve established this fund in response to the outpouring of support from the community to help out our neighbors affected by these wildfires.”
As is typical with disasters, a financial donation allows the most flexibility in responding to needs. But there are other ways to offer assistance.
A website set up by the state in cooperation with relief agencies (www.helpcoloradonow.org) has a comprehensive listing of ways in which people can help.
For instance, if you own a restaurant and want to donate meals, you may click a link that asks you to sign up. On the website, there are requests for desperately needed items such as camping gear, as well as personal-care items.
The Colorado Springs Gazette has a page with extensive listings that include agencies seeking support, as well as fundraisers and services available for fire victims and emergency workers. Go to .
Watching the news clips of fire consuming homes and absorbing the sad news of loss, it’s easy to think there’s nothing we can do. But there is. We applaud the generosity of Coloradans who have already stepped up to help their neighbors, and we hope others will follow suit.
Coloradans may share in the storied Western tradition of rugged individualism, but they also have a well-documented history of reaching out with a helping hand, and this is one of those times.
