Staff Report
Many people have been asking about making financial and other donations to the fire cause. Here are locations to do so.
Donation List for Fire Departments
If you want to make a donation directly to the Fire Departments, here is a consolidated list – they all have equipment needs and have all been fighting this beast since day one.
Huerfano Co.Fire Protection District PO Box 1204 Walsenburg, CO 81089
La Veta Fire Protection District www.lavetafire.org https://www.facebook.com/La-Veta-Fire-Protection-District-Auxiliary-169425710582688/ PO Box 44 La Veta, CO 81055
Upper Huerfano Fire Protection District, Gardner https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/85P86iZ6U7 25396 CO-69 Gardner, CO 81040
Monetary donations for fire victims
Huerfano County-Wide
According to Huerfano Co. Economic Development and Tourism Director, Carl Young, the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation Spring Fire Relief Fund has been set up as a relief fund for victims of the Spring Fire.
They are asking that you direct monetary donations to the Fire Relief Fund. Donations may be made online at www.springfireco.org. Checks can be mailed to the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1101, Walsenburg, CO 81089. Donations may also be made at First National Bank of Trinidad, Huerfano Branch or the Main branch in Trinidad, or at the Raton branch. All donations are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to Spanish Peaks Community Foundation with memo Spring Fire Relief Fund. Donations can be made for animals and agriculture, just write “SPRF-AG” in the memo line. For more information on how to donate, send an email to springfirecolorado@gmail.com
Cuchara merchants
The Cuchara Foundation is making a request for tax-deductible donations, 100% of which will go to support the merchants in Cuchara. If you want your donation to go to a specific merchant make that notation on your check.
Donations may be sent to: Village Merchants Fund c/o Cuchara Foundation, 137 E. Cuchara Ave., Cuchara, CO 81055 or click the donate button on the Cuchara Foundation Facebook page and donate now! ALL donations to this fundraiser will go directly to businesses in the Cuchara Village.
Goods donations for fire victims
The donation center at 611 Main in Walsenburg is now accepting:
NEW socks, t-shirts, and underwear
NEW toiletries and personal hygiene items
Non-perishable food items. Nothing refrigerated.
Water and other drinks
First-aid supplies
Indoor cleaning supplies: gloves, detergents, mops, buckets, ladders, brooms, construction bags, etc.
Outdoor cleanup supplies: shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, gloves, masks, goggles, etc.
Dog and cat food and pet meds (Hay and grain should be taken to the Huerfano County Fair Grounds in La Veta, Rio Cucharas Vet Clinicor the Gardner Community Center).
NO FURNITURE OR USED CLOTHING is being accepted at this time. If you have household goods, leave a list of these items with the donations coordinator and they will contact you if the need arises.
Please go to the back door to donate.
Other ways to donate
Others are pulling together donation accounts to help. We know the people on these sites personally and can vouch for their integrity.
Shirts to show support
These three sites have shirts and hoodies for sale to benefit those affected by the fire:
•https://www.customink.com/fundraising/cuchara-strong-t-shirt-fundraiser
•http://cucharavalleyrec.com/site/ click fun run
Donor beware:
As is always the case when disaster strikes, disreputable persons will try to take advantage of a tragic situation. Beware of calls, door to door fundraisers, and websites that would take your well-intended donations for their own use. We provide this list to give the good-hearted people of our community opportunities to help their neighbors, with the assurance that the money will be distributed to those truly in need.
