News Release
For release: September 14, 2022
For more information, contact:
Dawn Welch, Secretary, Four Way Community Foundation, (541) 951-3891
Four Way Community Foundation Provides Rum Creek Fire Relief Thanks to the Oregon Disaster Funders Network
In the thick of the smoke, as residents scrambled to evacuate from the growing Rum Creek Fire, Southern Oregon Emergency Aid volunteers tirelessly hooked up trailers and transported frightened animals. At their own expense they provided feed to the over 30 horses and numerous livestock and pet animals threatened by the fire. “Fuel for big trucks is costly; hay prices have gone up everywhere. Volunteers cheerfully dipped into their own pockets to help their neighbors, but that can’t go on forever,” stated SOEA coordinator Mary Anne Morrison. “We’re grateful to the Four Way Community Foundation and its partners at the Oregon Disaster Funders network for helping us provide gas cards and urgently needed supplies to our volunteers so they could continue to help, and were ready if things got worse.”
“Regional disaster relief funders recognize the need for immediate cash in these situations. In Josephine County, they rely on the Four Way Community Foundation’s on-the-ground knowledge of relief efforts and its networking connections to get financial help to us fast’” said Executive Director Kate Dwyer. In addition to SOEA, relief funds went to the Unitarian Universalists of Grants Pass’s smoke shelter, the Josephine County Fairgrounds to offset the costs of lost event revenue and housing evacuated people and animals, the Josephine County Parks and Recreation Foundation to help alleviate budget hits from cancelled camping and providing space for evacuated residents, and the Josephine County Food Bank, which cheerfully met all food requests related to these efforts despite their own growing need for funding as residents cope with inflation.
The Roundhouse Foundation of Sisters, Oregon, The Ford Family Foundation of Roseburg, the Oregon Community Foundation of Portland, and the Oregon Community Credit Union of Eugene all sent urgently needed funds to Josephine County’s Four Way Community Foundation to distribute quickly to groups helping residents through the emergency. “We are so impressed by the generosity of regional and state funders in our time of need. It is comforting to know they have our backs,” stated Dwyer.
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The Four Way Community Foundation cultivates philanthropy and nonprofit success in greater Josephine County. To request a presentation to your group or to schedule a personal meeting, please contact Four Way Executive Director Kate Dwyer at 541-474-9774. To learn more, make a gift, or apply for a grant, visit fourwaycommunityfoundation.org
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