There's a reason it's called Paradise. It's one of those places that's good for the soul - a quiet, woodsy town on a mountaintop with breathtaking views of the California Central Valley. Matthew Morgan was drawn to Paradise 11 years ago, surrounded by the natural landscapes he loves, with countless opportunities for kayaking, flyfishing, birding, and photography. After many rewarding years as a professional photographer, Matthew discovered a new calling in habitat restoration with The Nature Conservancy, and he practiced his new trade by creating a lovely native plant garden on his homestead.

On the morning of November 8, 2018, Matthew left home for work in the valley below, when he saw billows of black smoke rising over the hills behind him. Meanwhile, his partner Julie was still at home and heard news of a brush fire in the nearby town of Pulga. The fire grew and spread so quickly that she soon found she only had time to grab their cats and emergency go-bags before fleeing the house. Sadly, Matthew and Julie, along with thousands of others, lost their home, belongings, and entire town to the devastating Camp Fire.

The communities affected by the Camp Fire have been overwhelmed with generous donations of clothing and personal items. But the fire victims need cash most of all to replace the necessities that can't be found at a donation center or that insurance may not reimburse for many months, if ever. And the mortgage still has to be paid even if the house is completely gone.

This fundraiser was created by Matthew's colleagues, and for his family and friends, who are eager to help give him a fresh start. Matthew was hesitant at first, as he humbly notes there are so many others who are struggling to recover from the fire. But he finally agreed after a gentle reminder that if there was ever a time to accept help from those who care about him, this is it.

Please contribute any amount that's right for you - every bit helps.

Many thanks for your generosity.