The Salvation Army Continues to Aid Mono County Residents Affected By Round Fire

Swall Meadows, CA (February 13, 2015):  One week after the Round Fire struck Mono County, destroying 40 homes and injuring four individuals, The Salvation Army is continuing its efforts to support the fire survivors within Swall Meadows and Paradise communities.

Salvation Army volunteers continue to provide daily meals, snacks and drinks to fire containment crews, clean-up teams and residents returning to the burn site. In the nearby town of Bishop, The Salvation Army is on site at the Tri County Fairgrounds offering toiletries, clothing, bedding, referrals, limited financial assistance and access to emergency shelter.  Salvation Army response teams are also providing emotional care and counseling to those survivors struggling with losing their homes.

Yesterday, The Salvation Army convened a meeting with members of the Bishop community to begin the first steps of creating an Eastern Sierra VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters). VOAD associations improve outcomes for people affected by disasters by facilitating cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration among nonprofit organizations, community-based groups, government agencies, and for-profit companies. VOAD groups exist around the country at a city, county, state, and national level.

"The Round Fire has established an opportunity for local businesses and volunteer groups to come together and plan for the next emergency,” said John McKnight, Emergency and Disaster Services Director for The Salvation Army's Golden State Division. “A VOAD is a great way to respond to emergency situations in an organized and coordinated manner."

Tomorrow, The Salvation Army will assist with the Swall Meadows neighborhood meeting, providing both meals and materials needed for the meeting.  The Salvation Army will continue providing care and assistance along as its needed.

Photos of Salvation Army Response: http://bit.ly/1AoMtWf

How The Public Can Help:
The best way to help fire survivors and rescue workers is to make a financial contribution. Monetary donations allow The Salvation Army to help the families affected by the fire as well as keep our Canteen stocked with supplies. There are a variety of ways public can support The Salvation Army’s Round Fire disaster relief efforts:

Phone: Call 1-760-872-2124

Mail:  Designate "Round Fire” on check/money order, mail to:

The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 1104
Bishop, CA 93515

Volunteering:
Anyone interested in volunteering to assist with relief efforts should call Robert at 760-872-2124.

Donations of Goods:
The only in-kind items accepted this time are donations of food and grocery gift cards, which can be dropped off at 621 W. Line Street in Bishop.

The outpouring of support from the local community has been tremendous. The Tri County Fairgrounds is no longer accepting donations clothing, bedding, shoes, toiletries and other household goods for the Round Fire survivors and relief effort.  However, gifts of gently-used household goods and clothing are always needed by the Salvation Army Thrift Store to support their work in Bishop and surrounding communities.