Big Fire Relief from a Small Center, by Debra Moon

Big Fire Relief from a Small Center

by Debra Moon

    The Almeda Fire Relief Center started in Talent in the Grotto parking lot in September of 2020. Several months later it was moved to a Phoenix shopping mall, to The Shoppes at Exit 24. Now the Relief Center is no longer at Exit 24, and it has downsized to an office, offered by the Talent Urban Renewal Commission, at 102 Home Street in Talent. However, the impact of the center has not downsized at all. The Fire Relief Center served over 800 families from September 2020 through August 2021 in the Grotto parking lot and Exit 24, but the office in Talent now serves 300 people daily, obtaining basics and connecting to resources.

    Two organizations work together to run the Fire Relief Center: Rogue Action Center and Rogue Climate. These organizations have a record of working together. They sponsor many projects, including Resource Navigation and the Disaster Relief Team (DRT). The staff at the center are involved in both organizations and their projects; this, along with common issues and goals, have tied the two organization together and united them in purpose and action. A large team of involved staff and volunteers work through both organizations to bring about fire relief, among other results on various fronts in the community. Staff member Elib Crist Dwyer says, “Really when the fire hit, we were already organized. We remain available, and agile, to respond to needs of the community.” They are pleased to have a physical presence in their office in Talent, especially as families begin to move back into the community through the Gateway Project.

    In Elib’s words, “The organizations behind the Fire Relief Center meet at the intersection of economic crisis and the racial injustice crisis.” He says that the work of the Fire Relief Center is to listen carefully to the public, those suffering from the fire particularly at this time, and determine the needs, and then advocate for them and find all the resources out there to meet those needs. A big job, indeed, but it seems that this small office is doing it. 

    One major resource is Rogue Food United. They are true heroes of the recovery effort in the area. From the beginning, Rogue Food United has provided meals for fire survivors, and they still are providing daily meals. They organize the donations from local restaurants and disperse the meals to those in need. They also have a staff that prepares meals. 

    Another major resource, still in the building stages, is DRT, a disaster relief team that is mobile. It can go to where the next disaster occurs, with a big truck equipped with basic needs: food, clothing, bedding, pet supplies, hygiene supplies and more. This team also organizes shelter pods to provide shelter immediately for families in need. Staff member Lucas Wedeman says, “We hope we never need this Disaster Relief Team resource, but we know we will.”

    Our community has shown up in solidarity to help with all these efforts. With the good people who volunteer, these relief efforts would not be able to reach so many. There are still displaced families living in hotels or with relatives in less-than-ideal situations that have disrupted school for the children, jobs for adults and compromised people in meeting their daily needs. So, the work continues. The Almeda Fire was a tragedy that affected everyone, not just the fire victims. There is still lot of work to be done to bring people back home. 

    The Fire Relief Center is offering pop-up events every two weeks, on Saturday, in various communities. They have held these events in White City, Emigrant Lake, Phoenix, the Expo Center, Talent and more. The last pop-up event was at the Talent Historic Town Hall, in the parking lot where the Food Bank sets up on Thursdays. The next pop-up event in Talent will be on December 18th in the same location. 

    The Rogue Action Center phone number is 541-292-1741. It is best to call for an appointment, whether you are looking for relief services or offering to help or volunteer. There is an effort to keep the new office open for drop-in services on Wednesdays and Fridays from noon until 4 pm. If you can make an appointment, that is best. 

    Si necesita ayuda o desea ser voluntario para ayudar a las personas de la comunidad, llame a este número y programe una cita: 541-292-1741.

    Elib suggests that if we want to help, we can volunteer for pop-up relief events, donate funds, and continue to stand next to our community in this recovery. “All the projects require us all to show up. But one thing I’m thankful for is that Talent is not in denial. I see just how much work citizens have been willing to put in. And they are doing it over the long-haul. This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.”