You Can Help Too....A way to give back....

~South Lake Tahoe Fire~

The Angora Fire in South Lake Tahoe

Said to be the worst fire in Lake Tahoe in over a Century.

As I lie in bed tonight and say my prayers I pray for the families and people that have lost their homes. A natural disaster is a horrible thing and it can happen to anyone of us at any given time. There are a lot of people that do not have homes tonight. We all think, or I would like to think that we all think of a way we can give back to our communities or want to reach out and help others in need and there are a lot of people literally in our backyard that are going to need our help! They have nothing and are going to need the help of others to get back on their feet. So I challenge you to reach out to these families and go to your local Red Cross and donate food, clothes, diapers, money whatever you can do. Because while we all are sleeping in a home with a roof over our heads tonight there are a lot of people that have just lost everything they have. The things I take forgranted each and every day.

I want to thank everyone who is helping fight this fire, volunteering and risking their lives to save people and their homes!

Here is how you can help:

http://www.redcross.org/

If you are going to be in the Lake Tahoe Area for the 4th of July here are locations you can donate too and what they need!

Those wishing to donate items can bring them to three different drop-off locations in Incline Village:• The administrative offices of the Incline Village General Improvement District, 893 Southwood• The main fire station of the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, 866 Oriole Way • Chase International office, 917 Tahoe Blvd. #100, which is a Red Cross-designated collection site. The items will then be taken to South Lake Tahoe for distribution. Donations of toiletries, blankets, bedding, stuffed animals for children, etc. are needed. Items such as canned food, easy to eat items that are non-perishable, diapers, cases of water, toiletry items are high on the wish list.Those who would like to donate money for the victims can do so by calling the American Red Cross in South Lake Tahoe, (530) 542-6056, or visit the Web site, http://www.redcross.org/. The Parasol Community Foundation has set up an “Angora Fire Relief Fund,” where 100 percent of the proceeds will go specifically to those impacted by the Angora Fire. More than $10,000 has been collected from the Foundations board members and any amount from the community will make a difference. To make a donation, call (775) 298-0100, any amount will help.Incline Village• Pet Network Animal Friends, Incline’s non-profit animal rescue and adoption organization, is providing immediate relief efforts for displaced pets from victims of the Angora Fire. Pet food, blankets, cat litter and animal products are needed, call (775) 832-4404.• The Northern Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross is stressing that financial donations to help with the Tahoe Fire Relief Fund be sent instead of clothing or food donations. Relief accounts have been set up by the Red Cross at local Bank of Americas.• All Bank of America’s, in both Nevada and California will accept financial donations made out to the Tahoe Fire Relief Fund. Anyone wanting to make donations directly to the American Red Cross can send checks for disaster relief to: American Red Cross, 1190 Corporate Blvd., Reno, NV 89503 or to the Sacramento Sierra Chapter of the American Red Cross, 8928 Volunteer Lane, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95826. Chamber of CommerceThe North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, working with the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, is soliciting donations for those displaced by the Angora Fire, which started in an area southwest of South Lake Tahoe, California Sunday afternoon. At this time, bottled water, canned goods, blankets, towels and clothing are the most needed items.North Lake Tahoe area businesses and individuals can donate needed items at the Rideout Community Center located 740 Timberland Lane, just off Highway 89 on the West Shore and approximately 3.5 miles south of Tahoe City. Donations can be made between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Donations will also be accepted at this week’s Sunday Concert at Commons Beach between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Commons Beach in Tahoe City.For updated information on damaged property and homes listed by address, visit http://www.edso.org/.HOW TO HELPLocations to drop off donations for Angora Fire victimsNorth Tahoe• Coldwell Banker Office: 531 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City• Coldwell Banker Office/Cobblestone Center: 475 North Lake Blvd., Tahoe City• Prudential Realty Offices: 950 North Lake Blvd., Suite 12C, Tahoe City• AAA Offices: 7717 North Lake Blvd. in Tahoe Vista near Lanza’s Restaurant.• North Tahoe Community Conference Center in Kings BeachTruckee• Prudential Realty: 10800 Donner Pass Road, Suite 101 (across from Tahoe Forest Hospital)• Wells Fargo Bank: 11262 Donner Pass Road, Truckee (Safeway shopping center, next to Panda Express), from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.• Truckee Chamber of Commerce: 10065 Donner Pass Road, in downtown Truckee, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Coldwell Banker Glenshire office: 10095 Dorchester Blvd., Truckee, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Truckee Town Hall: 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Squaw Valley• Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors: 1810 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.• Olympic Village Lodge, past the old fire station at the end of Squaw Valley Rd., Tuesday June 30 through Sunday July 1 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Things to BringMen’s, women’s and children’s clothing — newer, lightly worn is preferred, summer clothing is encouraged (shorts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans/casual pants), lightly worn shoes including sneakers and boots. Also new undergarments in packaging would be greatly appreciated — socks, underwear, etc. Toiletries such as toothbrushes, deodorant and children’s toys will also be accepted.