This GoFundMe is being set up specifically for the purpose of supporting the community of El Cariso recover from the impacts of the Airport fire that hammered the village of El Cariso. Our store, Hafey Farms Mountain Market, was saved from the fire; however, within a 1.5-mile radius of our store, there are over 100 structures and more than 35 homes that have been lost to the fire.

The day we discovered our store was saved, we immediately began using the store as a resource to the firemen and local residents as a lifeline to provide whatever resources we could. El Cariso Village has been without power, water, cell phone, and internet, all during a 7-day road closure where there was no way to get supplies, food, or water up onto the mountain. During this time, we were able to run generators to keep essential refrigeration and lights on in order to provide food to fire crews and local residents that had sheltered in place. And with a borrowed Starlink satellite internet, we have been the only place that had internet and communications on the mountain for the locals. During this time, we supplied over 450 meals to the fire crews and became an important gathering place to get information or send email or text updates to family members.

As the roads re-opened and residents were able to return to their homes, the area was and is still without utilities. We have turned the store into a donation distribution center, information hub, and support line for the residents. As a central gathering place, we have been serving free meals to residents 2 times per day, distributing information that becomes available, and providing a place to charge phones, communicate, and gather water, food, ice, clothing, supplies, and other donations. We have coordinated volunteers and donations from private individuals, vendors, partners, corporate entities, Red Cross, and County/State Government resources to get the essential supplies needed to the community where there were none.

This fund is set up to deliver financial support to those families in El Cariso and Decker Canyon who lost their homes in the fire and the residents of El Cariso Village.

For more information on the work and support Hafey Farms Mountain Market has been doing, please visit our Facebook Page @ HafeyFarmsMountainMarket.