Fund for fire victims is accepting applications
News | July 30, 2007
editor@tahoedailytribune.com
Jim Grant / Tahoe Daily Tribune / A flag is displayed Monday in the Angora fire burn zone. The Angora Fire Fund is accepting applications from fire victims for financial aid. There is now about $104,000 available with $160,000 more pledged to come.
With $104,000 in its coffers and $160,000 more pledged, applications are now being accepted for distribution of money through the Angora Fire Fund, the official fundraising arm to aid victims of last month's wildfire.
The fund, formerly referred to as "Locals for Locals" was set up to receive and distribute money locally. That way, clubs, companies and individual donors would have a central place to put their donations without worrying whether the money would reach fire survivors, said Angora Fire Fund board member Wendy David in a press statement. The fire, which started on June 24, destroyed 254 homes, burned 3,100 acres and cost more than $160 million.
The fund doesn't employ staff nor does it pay for office space. The board of 11 members has been meeting weekly for three hours with other subcommittees to speed up the process, David added.
Eligibility requirements are for those who lost their primary residence in the fire. When verified, money will be distributed up to the maximum of $1,000 per household to assist with immediate needs. Households that received $500 of the Locals for Locals money via the Sierra Community Church may be eligible to receive up to another $500 based on their immediate needs.
Those who have already submitted an application for long-term needs may revise or resubmit for immediate needs. Fire survivors who have immediate needs must submit their applications for this round of funding before Aug. 30.
A second round of distribution for more long-term needs will commence in the fall, based on available resources. A new application is not necessary to be considered for additional money, organizers say.
"To date, the fund has given out $10,000 that was distributed by the Sierra Community Church last weekend," said board member John Packer in a press statement. A second round of checks was mailed on July 27, he added.
"As we can only give away what we have received, and we must base those distributions on current assets and credible pledges, the board has come up with what we believe is an equitable and prudent distribution system," Packer said.