Is there anything we as a club can do to help those affected by the Colorado fires (North and South)? These are the roads we love driving and the landscape that we enjoy will never be the same.

Feelin' helpless...anyone else? Ideas?

 

I agree, MINI5280 should do something, take up a collection for the animals displaced and needing food or something to the temporary people shelters.

Any suggestions from the club members? Comment?

I am in TN and then going to Virginia, so up to you all.

 

I've been following some of the FB groups and pages around the area and this is just a short list of ways we can help:

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is good on supplies now and they're just asking for monetary donations. I bet the volunteers could use some munchies too. There's also another place looking for feed for the larger animals and hoses.

Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado needs Gatorade for firefighters, along with soup and cereal. (I have two boxes of MREs...but I wouldn't want to make them suffer, lol)

American Red Cross - Pikes Peak Chapter

http://www.coloradosprings.com/artic...fire-peak.html

I took some dog food and litter down to one of the shelters that Rocky Moutain Health Care Services set up - I think now they're looking for stuff like pillows and blankets.

 

Agreed. I've been in CO 20yrs+ and I have never been as freaked out as these fires have made me.. Thoughts of moving back to the east coast and water / ocean have been in a never ending loop in my head. Logically, everything has it's positives and negatives (floods, hurricanes, earthquakes) and I've lived through them all but when breathing air tainted with ash, smoke, soot is becoming a daily occurrence one has to wonder..

Yes, I'm more than willing to help and support any/all effected by wildfires. To me, monetary donations are always the best. Here are a few I suggest:

1.
2.

3.

 

...couple more..

4.

5.

6.

Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department Mail donations to:
Poudre Canyon Volunteer Fire Department
PO Box 364 LaPorte, CO 80535-0364The local Canyon Utilities is helping by taking credit card donations over the phone, please dial (970) 881-2262.

 

..now I'm on a roll..we could buy / gather some of these things:

• Basic home first aid supplies
• Sunscreen
• School supplies
• Backpacks
• Water bottles
• Laundry baskets
• Men's jeans
• Coveralls and overalls
• Work boots
• Children and pant hangers
• New and used sleeping bags
• Clothing Racks
• New sheets all sizes
• New and used camping equipment
• New pots and pans
• Silverware
• Paper cups and paper plates
• Trash cans and trash bags
• Outdoor tables and chairs
• Outdoor storage
• Gloves
• Shovels
• Tarps
• Building supplies
• Generators
• Gift cards from area merchants
• Personal hygiene items
• Non-perishable foods - NOT HOME COOKED MEALS
• Laundry and cleaning supplies
• Please NO used clothing

Onward & Upward. Btw, for example, if the club would like to do water bottles with the MINI5280 logo I could probably get them produced and delivered in about 2 weeks. We could then have them readily available. Not projecting, but it is still June and more wildfires are possible (shrug) ..

Chris

 

I like the supply list. Now what?

 

I like everyone's suggestions. May I suggest we gather some of this stuff up with donations from members and from the club (items and $). Then deliver them via a MINI caravan. One north, one south? Thoughts?

Alan

 

Alan, I think that's a great idea! Let's discuss details. I'd like to put this in the upcoming newsletter.

 

I've got some clothes already set aside from when I cleaned out our closets a few weeks ago. Already bagged and waiting...still have those MREs too...

 

from what I've read additionally it looks like The American Red Cross is the center hub for donations of items, $$, etc. with $$ being the primary need. Maybe the club makes a monetary donation as well as gathering some of the aforementioned items and we do the caravan(s)?

 

Caravan only if we won't inpeed or get in the way of any relief or evacuation processes.

 

Have anyone heard from Herman and Mary Bee. We were just at the "BurgMary" castle Saturday. They may need some help.

 

Of course, absolutely don't impede anything. I was thinking more of bringing the donations down to a collection station like the Red Cross as Chris suggests. A northern and a southern that may not be near an emergency area. Besides it will take us some time to gear up and get donations from the members and then find a place or places to drop them off.

Kristan, we can talk off line about getting this all in the next newsletter.

Tina, thanks for raising this topic. Good point by WWW also, anyone speak with Herman since Saturday?

 

How about MITM having a donation box or items to bring.
We are thinking and praying for you.

 

Down south (Colo Spgs) they are looking for cash, towels, travel toiletries, large cans of food (#10 can). Primary organizations are Care & Share, Red Cross and Salvation Army.

Anyone have contact with MTTS leadership? might be good if they did some thing as they pass through Boulder/Colo Springs.

 

Per Michael Gleason on FB yesterday: Hermann & Mary are safe & the Porta Potty's are still there! Mary said they might come in handy if utilities get cut off! ha

 

Thanks NoOdle for relaying the word on Hermann & Mary! I had not been checking NAM forums for a few days.

Hermann was more anxious for MITM to get here than worried about the fire reaching Woodland Park!

Mike

 

For the souther I am going to try to set up a meet and donate at the first Saturday car show on 7 Jul. we will do a collection there. I will set up a donation bucket and see what we can come up with. We can ask for all souther mini owners to stop by even if they can't stay.

I contacted MTTS 2012 and they responded and indicated that they will be doing something for the Colorado fire victims. They did not say what but they are planning something.

 

Good deal, I'll see what I can do to get donations from people at my work also.

 

Ding this appears lost, I am waiting on input.

Thanks Don

 

Southern Colorado Mini owners - I know it is late but we are going to have a MINIS FOR THE FIRE SURVIVORS collection at the Saturday Car show tomorrow, 7 Jul. I will get a box together so we can collect cash, towels, food, etc for the survivors of the Waldo Canyon fire. We will collect what we can and get it over to United Way and Care and Share. The car show is 0800-1000 at first and Main (Powers/Carefree) just stop by and donate.

 

Ray,

How did your collection go with SOCOM today?

If you got a reasonable bundle of cash PM me, perhaps we can do some club matching amounts, let's discuss!

Thanks for getting it done in the Colorado Springs.

Don

 

I think we did pretty good on collecting for the fire victims. We raised $60 in the donation box at the first Saturday Car show in Colorado Springs. Thanks for all that donated. I would like to hang on to the donations and put the box out at some of the next events - Pikes Peak drive, next first Saturday car show, etc. I we have a meet up or anything else I can bring the box. Thanks again.

 

Great idea, let the donations grow. When you decide to close the cash box let me know the amount and the club will write a check to add to it.

Don