Emergency Relief for Pateros-Brewster WA

Hopefully most of you have heard about the nearly total devastation of Pateros, a tiny Columbia River town in north-central Washington state. They had a perfect storm of nine straight 100+ F days combined with high winds. The result was a fire that exploded across the landscape.

Even as I write this, the fire is burning rapidly through parts of Brewster, WA, the adjacent community up-river from Pateros.

Alex Thomason is a local resident working to get money, clothes, water, boots, whatever, into the hands of people that need it RIGHT NOW. He is on-site as I write this. I am a former resident doing what I can from a distance, i.e. creating this page for any and all who want to help.

There is no power, and in some cases, that means no water since pumps can't run. Some agricultural workers lost everything they own with no hope of insurance reimbursement.

Update: We have determined that Calvary Baptist Church of Brewster is currently the most efficient recipient of funds. They are working as we speak to distribute material support to those that need it. As administrator of this site, I can pledge that 100% of all funds donated here (less the processing fees charged by the site and credit card companies) will go to Calvary Baptist's Fire Relief fund. Greg Thorn, the pastor of the church, assures me all funds will be used for direct relief, meaning zero overhead--it will all go to the neediest in the area.

If you would prefer to donate directly to the church's Fire Relief Fund:

Calvary Baptist of Brewster
P.O. Box 5
Brewster, WA 98812

Memo: Fire Relief Fund



You would be correct in guessing state and federal aid is forthcoming, but there are needs that must be met before they can even mobilize. Not only that, we are the type of folk who pitch in and help one another.

There are alternatives to cash: Blankets, clothes, bottled water, etc. I know that one place accepting such material contributions is the Chelan County PUD:

Chelan County PUD
327 N. Wenatchee Ave
Wenatchee, WA. 98801 Map
Phone (509) [phone redacted]

I will update with links and more information as soon as I have them.