DURANGO — The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado says it has raised and spent more than $400,000 as of Sept. 30 to help those affected by the 416 wildfire.
The Durango Herald reports foundation executive director Briggen Wrinkle says the Community Emergency Relief Fund, administered by the foundation, was at about $30,000 when the fire broke out June 1 near Durango.
Workers furloughed by blaze applied for gift cards that paid for necessities and for job-interruption bridge funding.
Wrinkle says 201 job-interruption applicants were processed and the average aid to furloughed workers was $417.
The fund also provided $20,000 to the Community Emergency Assistance Coalition, a collaborative of many agencies that provides funds and financial counseling to individuals and families facing financial crises.
Wrinkle anticipates $500,000 will be raised for the Community Emergency Relief Fund by the end of the year.
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Information from: Durango Herald, http://www.durangoherald.com