Helping Middletown, CA After the Fire

...and then it got real.

Building a disaster response organization and actually responding to a disaster are two entirely different things. But, you can't ask volunteers to do what you won't do yourself, so I went to Middletown this week to help with disaster relief and talk to as many people as I could about on site needs.

Arriving was the hardest part. You just don't understand the impact on people's lives until you are there in person.

 The fire burned so fast and so hot that not even toilets survived. There is just nothing left of neighborhoods that were hit.

I slept in the back of a semi truck in bunk beds provided to volunteers, fed volunteers thanks to the generosity of the Lions Club and helped residents do what they called "sifting," which is going through debris looking for anything that might be salvageable or a keepsake. (I didn't find a single thing.)

 In order to understand where volunteers fit in, I talked with people from The Red Cross (thanks for the chili), Army/National Guard, the police, firemen, the Southern Baptist Church (thanks for the shower) and many residents.

As you might have guessed, the first responders do an excellent job. The Red Cross was passing out food and even some companies showed up in a big way to lend a hand (Verizon set up a mobile network and offered use of computers and phone chargers for example.

 The people I encountered were amazingly positive. Yesterday morning I was in the town center chatting with residents and several pulled out their cell phones to show me pictures like you see here...except the pictures were of their houses. Still, they would say things like "At least I saved my dog" or "I got my 70-year-old neighbors out 5 minutes before the fire hit." Talk about a glass half full approach!

 You Can Help! Here's How.
The residents of Middletown need pretty much everything to rebuild their lives. They have food and water thanks to first responders, but they've lost everything else. They need plates, pots, clothes, hay for their horses...everything. Fill a box and send it to:
Middletown Senior Center
21256 Washington Street
Middletown, CA  95461

(There are also hay drop stations in town.)

The Southern Baptist Church is providing showers via a big semi truck and laundry with another big semi truck. You know that basket of hotel mini soaps and shampoos that you've collected, they need that. They also need towels. Send those to:
Middletown Baptist Church
1818 W. Main
Middletown, CA  95461


Or, if a cash donation is more of a fit in terms of helping out and not filling boxes, based on what I saw when I was there, I would recommend The American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

You are the difference. You can pay it forward.

Let's Get Started

I'm headed to Anderson Springs and Middletown to see what is left and what is needed after the fires. We aren't yet ready to respond as an organization, but I at least want to learn what the volunteer needs are. What could second responders be doing right now to help now that the fire is 80% contained? Would I like to have 500 volunteers with me? Yes, but we aren't there yet. So, I've packed my car with tools and I have a lot of questions to ask people and hopefully I'll learn a lot and help a few people along the way.

Inspiration

(a personal note from the founder)

Hi, this blog is meant as a behind the scenes look at the formation and continuation of www.itstimetohelp.org. For better or worse, you get to hear about the sausage making of an organization devoted to helping communities in need.

Hey, that's Steve Harvey!

I had an inspirational experience this past weekend. I went to Parents Weekend at my daughter's university (Have I mentioned my daughter is awesome, by the way?) and among other activities we saw a speech given by Steve Harvey.

Now, I know what you are thinking. Based on the applause given by the audience during his introduction, I think the whole audience was thinking it. "It's the Family Feud guy!!!" ...and that would be wrong.

Steve Harvey is a passionate, motivated and spiritual guy. Though he was there to speak to the students, there were times when I felt he was speaking to me about starting www.itstimetohelp.org. He's gone through some adversity and come out better and stronger for it. His main points were:

1. If you have a dream, pursue it and know that maybe there's a greater influence in creating that dream. (I try not to impose any religious beliefs on the organization, so just fill in the blanks.)

2. Others that don't quite have their minds around your dream will tell you it can't be done. It's just too big. (Yup). But, do it anyway.

3. The only way you make your dream happen is to jump off the cliff and see if you soar or fall. (Check. I've officially jumped.)

4. People will understand your dream when it becomes reality.

What I've learned lately is that you don't know when or where you are going to find inspiration. It may be that person sitting next to you on that Southwest Airlines flight. It may be friends and neighbors. And...well...it may be sitting in a basketball gym listening to Steve Harvey.

Steve...if you ever read this, thanks!

The Uniform

Hi again.

We realize we just can't have people showing up at the doorstep of households in need wearing t-shirts that say "Is it 4:20 Yet?" or "Duran Duran Forever," so I've been putting my very limited fashion skills to designing a shirt that lets people identify us when we are in the field.

You'll see there is a lot of space leftover and that's so we can feature the logos of corporate sponsors and partners that will help us make this happen.

Our fashion model budget consists of all-you-can-eat carnitas so we were able to pay for my son Garrett to model the very first concept of the shirts our volunteers will wear. Please tell us what you think. If someone came to your door wearing this and offering help, would you feel comfortable letting him or her in?

Okay, admittedly, Tim Gunn has not been calling us for fashion advice, but it's a start.

Reflecting on 9/11, there are never words that seem adequate. I prefer to look at the first and second responders. With buildings literally burning down, firemen and police chose to run into the buildings to help people. A volunteer boat lift took place evacuating people from New York on everything from ferries to fishing boats. https://www.youtube.com/embed/MDOrzF7B2Kg?rel=0 . People came from all walks of life to help. (Okay, yes, I am trying to make a point here.)

Volunteers came together to look for survivors and ultimately rebuild.

I have nothing to say about the perpetrators. But, to those who responded and continue to respond, you make us proud.

An Introduction to itstimetohelp.org

Welcome to our blog at itstimetohelp.org.

Your first question might be, and this is completely natural, who are you and what are you doing? Well, to quote Burt Bacharach, I'm just a guy. This organization isn't about me. It's about you. This is a vehicle to allow more than 1,000 people to help communities in need with the support of corporations that care about more than profits.

That's me and my daughter.I'd put up a picture of my son, but he's much better looking than me (okay, set the bar low there.) and a little camera shy. He'll be coming in a future blog post along with my wife and others helping ramp up our not-for-profit foundation.

I have spent my career making profits and revenue and market share for some great corporations and some that weren't so great. At 49, I now want to devote my next chapter to creating an organization that helps communities in need. And, as I've traveled around and talked to other folks with salt and pepper hair that has turned completely to salt, I've realized I'm not alone. A lot of people want to help others, but it's the logistics that get in the way. People can't take the time to do all the planning it takes to go help a community in need. So, itstimetohelp.org is going to take care of the logistics so, if you can spare a week or two a year, you can do the most satisfying job of your career. You can help others during their time of need.

Our main focus is construction as second responders to disasters to help people get their houses back in order. Flooded house? School needs repair? We will show up at your door and offer help. But, if you have the time and desire, we'll find something for you to do, even if you've never lifted up a hammer. Ultimately, we hope to be able to provide those affected with a tent and a camping stove so, while we fix up their homes, they have a place to sleep on their property and a way of heating up some food to provide just a little slice of home.

If you work for a great corporation or one aspiring to be great, tell them about us. We can help you do more to help people and, by the way, we understand corporate branding and community relations. Our volunteers will have your corporation's logo on their shirts and our truck full of tools and building materials will have your corporation's logo on the side. If you are helping communities in need, we believe you should get credit for it.

Be part of an army of people paying it forward. If you are spending too much time sitting on the couch or behind a desk like I was, then this is your call to action. Get up, volunteer, make a difference. We'll take care of the rest.

Best to you,
        Eric Winkler, founder, itstimetohelp.org
        ewinkler@itstimetohelp.org
        www.itstimetohelp.org

P.S. You are the difference.