To aid the Chico/Paradise/Butte County fire victims we've been making daily runs in our WPE trucks to give ready-to-eat food and money directly to the victims in the fire-affected area.
We're also getting our mobile shower unit ready to take up to the area to offer that to those who've lost everything.
Our volunteers are in full gear giving their time and donating to help this extra effort.
WPE intends to continue making these runs until there is no longer an acute need for area fire victims.
Last Wednesday, WPE volunteers Jim May and Eric Cox drove a refrigerated van with food and donations to a little-known town called Brownsville where the manager, Kathleen, has been putting up about 50 evacuees in her small motel.
Recounts Jim May: "She fixes food for them in the morning and the townspeople do it in the evening. The ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads that White Pony Express brought were enough to provide them with lunches for several days. In Brownsville, we handed out envelopes of money, which is desperately needed for necessities."
The ready-to-eat meals are from the regular donations made daily to WPE's Food Rescue program. These donations have been providing a substantial amount of food that is distributed by WPE to the hungry in Contra Costa County.
Continues Jim: "Going on to Oroville, we found people camped out in parking lots. Fortunately, we were able to provide food to all of those who needed it. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of this."
WPE Executive Director Gary Conner explains, "Although we principally serve Contra Costa County, White Pony Express is most grateful to be able to send needed food to the families in the Paradise area, who are now coping with survival in the aftermath of the fires. It is important that we remember and help serve our brothers and sisters in Paradise, many of whom have lost everything."
If you'd like to make a donation to support the work we do that's now been extended to those in need outside our county,
The needs are great here at home across Contra Costa County, but when we say "ALL of Us Taking Care of ALL of Us", especially in times of great need, that means going the extra mile to help. Thank you for supporting what we do, especially this time of year.