Ukiah Daily Journal Article: “Helping victims become survivors”
Few things are more stressful than losing your home, especially when it is destroyed suddenly by a fire.
“So we want to make this space as comforting as possible,” said Danilla Sands, director of Disaster Resources for United Disaster Relief of Northern California, pointing out this week some of the newest “cozy” touches she added to the organization’s headquarters in Ukiah.
Some of the “cozy” new touches Sands added to the kids’ play room. (Justine Frederiksen/The Ukiah Daily Journal)
“We got new furniture for the family and office rooms, as well as new games and toys for the kids’ play room,” said Sands, explaining that she was able to purchase the items thanks to a $50,000 grant provided by T-Mobile, which chose the UDRNC Resource Center as one of its latest “Hometown Grant” recipients.
Described as the “go-to” place for victims of fires, floods and other catastrophes, UDRNC not only provides immediate help such as food, clothing and toiletries, it also provides up to three years of crucial logistical support to help “victims transition into survivors,” Sands said.
And as grateful as she was that the organization was chosen as one of the 25 Hometown Grant recipients this year, Sands said the money could not be used toward her biggest goal: securing a down payment in order to purchase the building the center operates from.
“Dr. Rice and Dr. Sommers have been very generous is leasing us this space,” said Sands, referring to the former home of Mendocino Animal Hospital on Airport Park Boulevard, “but we could offer so much more to our clients and partners if we owned the building.”
First and foremost, Sands said the money currently being paid on rent would go toward a mortgage. Next, the organization could make some crucial upgrades, such as transforming the pet-bathing room into a space for humans to take showers in.
“It’s already all set-up for that now, it would just need some modifications,” Sands said. “And it would be so wonderful to be able to offer (fire evacuees) hot showers.”
Another option that would only become available if the organization bought the building is greatly increasing the amount of storage on-site, not only for UDRNC, “but for our partners, as well,” said Sands, explaining that she can only accept a fraction of the palettes loaded with food, furniture and other supplies that businesses offer to deliver, due to the limited amount of storage space she can utilize now.
To help the organization finally achieve its long-standing goal of buying the building, it is hosting a Benefit Dinner next month: May 16 at 5 p.m. at the Ukiah Valley Conference Center in Ukiah.
Sands said the “largest sponsors for the event so far are: the City of Ukiah, LG Electric, Redwood Valley Lumber, All In Heating and Cooling, and John & Jeanette Johnson.”
For people who want to sponsor/purchase a table at the event, which will feature a catered dinner and a silent auction, Sands said the deadline for having your name printed on the event’s flyer/postcard is April 12.
Read more about UDRNC on their website: https://udrnc.org/
