Davis holds fundraiser for fire victims
By Stephanie Chang,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–
Citizens of Davis chatter and socialize on the grounds of Sudwerk Brewery as a voice through the microphone speaks about the ways Davis has helped.
On Oct. 22, Sudwerk Brewing Dock Store held a fundraiser for the fire victims from 12 to 4 p.m., one of many ways Davis residents and businesses have worked to find ways to support the victims of Northern California’s fires. People brought gift cards from stores such as Target, Safeway and CVS that acted as an admission ticket to the event. The gift cards are to be distributed to victims in Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake Counties.
People and businesses of Davis have stepped up to support the fundraiser. Hot Italian Pizza donated pizzas for the event. Local bands also played at the event, and KDRT 95.7 broadcasted live from the event.
The event was spearheaded by Lucas Frerichs, Davis City Councilmember. The organizing team includes Davis City Councilmember Rochelle Swanson, Davis Joint Unified School District Trustee Barbara Archer, Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, Trent Yackzan of Sudwerk Brewing Co., Andrea Lepore of Hot Italian, Autumn Labbe-Renault of Davis Media Access and KDRT 95.7 FM. The community organizers include Stacie Frerichs, Kyle Monhollen; Brian Morgan; Gloria Partida, Neil Ruud and Danny Tomasello.
“It’s important to hold fundraiser events such as this, because if Davis ever faced a similar wide-ranging tragedy, we’d certainly hope that other communities would step up and help us in our greatest time of need,” Frerichs said.
Davis has been participating in emergency response to the fires as firefighters and a Disaster Preparedness staff have been sent to assist.
Additionally, the Davis City Council has been helping the daily operations of social services programs. Environmental health staff will also be assisting with inspections, while UC Davis’ veterinary program is assisting animals.
“We pitch in when our neighbors are harmed because we care,” Saylor said. “We are part of an interconnected web. Many of us know people in these areas.”
Like Frerichs, Saylor believes that by assisting those in the nearby, they would in turn do the same if needed.
“We also can empathize with the suffering of others, even if we do not [suffer],” Saylor said. “We know that we could be in the same situation one day and that they would do the same for us.”
Saylor relates the helping of fire victims to international crises.
“Bottom line is simply it is the right thing to do,” Saylor said. “One challenge today is that we are also called upon to respond to the plight of our fellow US residents in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and to others around the world. It is a busy time for human compassion.”
If anyone wants to make a donation, they can do so to the Redwood Credit Union at redwoodcu.org/northbayfirerelief. 100 percent of the proceeds go to victims.
