$4.7 million granted to communities impacted by fires

The 2020 Community Rebuilding Fund, a collaborative effort led by the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) in partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, The Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross, announced today $4,439,256 in grants to support 40 organizations throughout the eight Oregon counties ravaged by fires.

Locally organizations receiving money include $105,000 to the non-profit McKenzie Community Communications group to build a GMRS repeater network and distribute radios that will provide emergency connectivity before another disaster strikes.

The McKenzie School District was granted $95,000 to build an affordable childcare program.

Receiving two grants was the newly formed McKenzie Valley LTRG of Lane County (Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development, Inc.). $107,250 was earmarked to fund construction materials and fire-wise landscaping to improve resiliency and mitigate future events. Another $149,600 was designated to support the McKenzie Valley LTRG's operations.

The remaining $85,850 in grant money allocated to the area was awarded to the McKenzie River Trust to secure land and water resources made vulnerable by the Holiday Farm Fire. In addition, the Trust plans to secure financial, land, and water resources they say will be critical for community recovery.

"Fire is inevitable, catastrophes are not," said Sonia Worcel, Chief Community Impact Officer, Oregon Community Foundation. "Working together, we can reduce the risks of devastating fires now and in the future while ensuring that communities and phil-anthropic organizations are able to respond effectively. We will continue to be collaborative, nimble, and forward-thinking, as we support community-led solutions to address crisis in our state."