Want to help the Oklahoma fire victims? Here is how and where to donate.
An Ada store, Wise Owl Resale, will take local yard sale donations, wash all clothing, and clean all items.
They also allow those involved in disasters, (with an American Red Cross referral) to shop ALL donated items for FREE.
Anyone who lost a home in the fires and is without insurance can shop donated items free at 525 E. Main in Ada.
They have adult and children’s clothes, several household items and some bedding.
Anyone who shops under disaster duress will need to bring a referral from the American Red Cross before shopping.
Store hours:
Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
(580) 332-6600
The Christmas Connection will oversee collections and disbursement to families forced from their homes by the fires.
Because of the overwhelming response to the call for donated items, Christmas Connection needs volunteers to help sort the items, hang and size clothing and stock the shelves.
Store hours:
Monday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 11: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
People who wish to help are asked to visit the Christmas Connection website at www.christmasconnection.org and select the “Volunteer” icon or call (405) 634-2006.
CLEVELAND COUNTY: For the Cleveland County fires, the donation center for people who want to donate items to fire victims is at 101 N. Main st, Noble, OK. It’s at the Church of Christ. Behind the church is a donation center set up. They will be open for donations, assistance and they desperately need volunteers.
Information on donations to the Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity can be found here.
SLAUGHTERVILLE: In Slaughterville the Baptist Church was overrun with clothing and household goods and do not have room or need for any more. People are still encouraged to donate money at any Republic Bank and Trust in care of Slaughterville Baptist Church Helping Hands Fund.
LUTHER: The town of Luther is requesting donations.
Donate at the Church of Christ Community Center
1st St. and Ash St.
7 a.m. – 8 p.m. through Aug. 10.
Here is more information on donations in the Luther area.
Luther monetary donations:
First Bank and Trust of Luther
(405) 227-3211
Donate to Town of Luther:
Contact Luther Town Hall
(405) 227-3833
The Red Cross will be participating in two Multi-Agency Resourse Centers Aug. 7 at:
Luther Auditorium
18955 NE 178th
Luther, OK
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
12 Corners Baptist Church
15601 E. Etowah Rd.
Noble, OK 73068
12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday
8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday
These resource centers will serve as a “one-stop shop” for those affected by the wildfires in order to provide them with immediate and long-term needs.
The Salvation Army National Disaster site is taking donations.
Donate Now to Oklahoma Fire Relief Efforts
Infant Crisis Services wants to send a message that those affected by the wildfires can get services for their baby or toddler. They will be able to provide formula, food, diapers, clothing, bottles, blankets, wipes, etc. They can also help them with resources to find cribs, car seats, baby beds, etc. All they need to do is call (405) 528-3663.
Legal Aid is ready to help fire victims in Metro OKC. If your family has been victimized by wildfires and you need legal assistance concerning your rights, Legal Aid’s Oklahoma City Law Office has created a direct phone line you can call for immediate help and talk to an attorney on-the-spot. Neil Lynn, managing attorney for the Oklahoma City office, urges people whose homes and apartments, personal possessions and/or important personal papers and files have been burned or destroyed, to call toll free 855.488.6814 for immediate counsel and advice from one of Legal Aid’s experienced staff attorneys. Additionally, Legal Aid is working with the Red Cross to set up an onsite intake area for fire victims.
In response to the recent wildfires, Allstate Insurance Company has deployed a Catastrophe Response Vehicle to the Mannford, Oklahoma area. This vehicle is equipped to help customers file claims and answer common questions pertaining to their home or auto losses from the recent wildfires.
OID Expands Assistance to Wildfire Victims. Oklahomans who suffered losses in the recent wildfire outbreak will have more places to go for answers to insurance questions.
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak has directed new Consumer Assistance field locations be opened in Drumright and Noble/Slaughterville area. The location at the Drumright Fire Department, 124 W. Broadway, opened today. Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) staff will be partnering with the Red Cross at Twelve Corners Baptist Church, 15601 E. Etowah Rd. in Noble, starting tomorrow. OID Consumer Assistance will continue to be available in Mannford at Hwy 51 and Hwy 48, and in Sand Springs at the United Methodist Family Life Center – 101 W. 38th Street.
“Over the last three days, I’ve spoken with dozens of people who have lost everything they own in the fires,” Doak said. “Some don’t have insurance on their homes, but many do. When I or my staff get involved in an insurance problem, we often get faster results than homeowners can get themselves.”
Oklahomans can reach the OID Consumer Assistance team toll-free at (800) 522-0071 or online at oid.ok.gov.
Additionally, Boy Scouts answer the call for help. Many homes were severely damaged or completely destroyed. The American Red Cross has a plan to use “sifting-boxes” to allow families to sift through the ashes and rubble to recover some of their valuables. The Red Cross has asked the volunteers of the Boy Scouts of America to build about 250 sifting boxes so that they can be used by families.
In Scouting’s spirit of service several volunteers responded to both phone calls and an email to all registred volunteers. Some of the volunteers and youth were so eager to help they wanted to get some boxes built today, and they did! The cheerful service of these youth and adults is meant to bring just a little bit of recovery back to families who have lost almost everything. Their good turns will be supplemented over the next several days when no less than 150 volunteers will be building even more boxes at more than five locations throughout the Oklahoma City Metro Area.
The American Red Cross will distribute these boxes to the families who have had fires impact their homes and businesses.
Several additional Edmond Scouting Youth and Adult Volunteers will be joining together on Monday-August 6th at First United Methodist Church 301 East Hurd, Edmond at 6:30 pm for construction of boxes. To be continued on Tuesday evening at St. John the Baptist Church in Edmond, if needed.
FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grants for Fires in Multiple Counties in Oklahoma:
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved requests from the state of Oklahoma for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) for fires burning in multiple counties. This includes the Drumright Fire burning in Payne and Creek counties; the Glencoe Fire in Payne County; the Noble Fire in Cleveland County; the Freedom Fire in Creek County; and the Luther fire in Oklahoma County.
“These fires can be so devastating to communities, and we are committed to supporting our state and local partners during this time,” said FEMA Region 6 Acting Administrator Tony Robinson. “These grants will assist in the efforts to protect life and property.”
Eligible state firefighting costs covered by the aid must first meet a minimum threshold for costs before assistance is provided. Eligible costs covered by the aid can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools, materials and supplies; and mobilization and demobilization activities.
An authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of state and local government eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. Federal fire management assistance is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to reimburse local firefighting efforts for fires that threaten to cause a major disaster.
