Wallowa Storm Fund - chip in to rebuild!

Video courtesy of EOAlive.tv, used with permission.

Update 11/5: Although additional relief funds have come in, help is still needed for Wallowa! Windows, roofs and signs are still out for some folks but the difference now is that there's snow on the ground! Winter is a very real thing and showed up early this year. Please donate if you can, your help is appreciated and still needed! Funds go directly to the Wallowa Storm Fund at Community Bank.

Update: I spoke with the city today, 8/15 and this is becoming the official GoFundMe!

THANK YOU everybody who has contributed so far and for everybody in and around town who has helped with cleanup, food, supplies, going door to door... Wallowa is a town to be proud of!

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On August 11 the town of Wallowa in Eastern Oregon was hit by a freak hailstorm, with golf ball-sized hail and high winds torrenting down and absolutely destroying vehicles, house windows, and structures. Although few injuries were reported there were losses to some livestock. Power was out all night and is slowly coming back on. This has been a lot of catastrophic loss for a small town of 800 people, and many are still in shock as they assess the damage and look to rebuild.

The community - as it always has - has come together to help with food, shelter, supplies, and muscles. For people like me who were raised by this town but now live far away, the best thing we can do is contribute towards a fund to help those in need.

A fund has been set up to help at the Joseph Community Bank branch under "Wallowa Storm Fund". However, for technical reasons that brand-new account won't be ready for donations until likely Tuesday, August 16.

For those outside of Wallowa County, this GoFundMe is an easy way to contribute to that fund. If you are from the area, ever visited Wallowa, or just have an appreciation for this most beautiful place in America I encourage you to share this and give to provide the resources needed to rebuild this incredible, resilient town.

If you are around Wallowa, material donations (food, clothing, building supplies) can be sent to the fire department at 104 N Pine in Wallowa, OR. Building materials like doors, windows, plywood, siding, roofing, and similar are in high demand (especially windows). Please also consider contributing directly to the relief fund if possible at Community Bank (though they may not be able to take it until after Tuesday).

Thank you for helping and please spread the word!

- Michael Karikas, Wallowa High School class of 2000