• by Tanya Gazdik , October 17, 2017

Businesses are joining together to donate a portion of sales to fire relief efforts. 

Using the hashtag #CAWineStrong, winery tasting rooms, breweries, restaurants, hotels and other wine-loving businesses throughout California have committed to donating a portion of their sales during the balance of October. A dedicated website details the effort, including a list of participating businesses. 

Wildfires have raged in Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties, killing at least 41 people. In the last week, the fires have scorched more than 200,000 acres, destroyed or damaged more than 5,500 homes and displaced 100,000 people, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Airbnb is waiving service fees to allow hosts to offer their homes near the affected areas to those in need of shelter. Local hotels, including the Westin in San Francisco, are lowering their prices for first responders and evacuees. The Days Inn and Suites in Antioch is offering free rooms to evacuees and first responders.

Verizon is operating a text-to-donate campaign whereby wireless customers can contribute to relief and recovery efforts. Users can make a $10 donation to the Red Cross by texting CAWILDFIRES to 90999. Users can donate up to 10 times. Verizon is waiving any text messaging fees for disaster relief and 100% of each donation goes to American Red Cross relief efforts. The company is also giving its affected subscribers talk, text and data relief. 

Russian River Brewing Company and King Ridge Foundation have raised more than $125,000 for victims of the Sonoma County Wildfires. Bear Republic Brewing Co. is joining with the above to brew a Sonoma Pride release. 

Sonoma Pride was originally conceptualized by Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo from Russian River Brewing Company in July 2015 to celebrate Sonoma County. However, under the dire circumstances Sonoma County is facing, the brewing company has redirected the use of the Sonoma Pride name to help those in need after the tragic fires.

Bear Republic is are currently working on additional collaborations to be brewed with other Sonoma County breweries to support the victims and firefighters of the wildfires. Bear Republic’s brewpubs are offering free meals to the first responders involved with the local fires at both restaurant locations in Healdsburg and Rohnert Park, Calif.

Many of the Bear Republic family members have lost their homes and have little to rely on. For the next 30 days, 50 cents on every case of Bear Republic beer sold will be donated to raise funds to help those affected. 

“We are reaching out to our wholesalers and asking for their support through matching funds up to 50 cents per case or a one-time donation,” according to a statement by the company. Many distributors nationwide also are committing to the cause, according to the brewery.