Community comes through for Park Fire survivors in benefit concert

CHICO — With the Park Fire still burning, local organizations put together a benefit concert in just 11 days, bringing people together with music and beer Saturday at Chico City Plaza to support organizations working with fire affected families.

Roots of Resilience was no ordinary event — it was a display of understanding to people affected by the Park Fire, shown by people who share their pain.

This was the case for Jenny Lowery, director of From the Ground Up Farms, who lost her home in the Camp Fire and has since found purpose in serving families displaced by wildfire disasters by giving them a place to stay and helping them with their properties.

Her organization has been a point of contact for people who lost their homes in Cohasset; many volunteers with the organization lost their homes in fires and have been getting busy connecting with people through social media to lend advice.

“I’ve got phones in both pockets; this one lady needs food; this one lady needs to know where to find information … another lady wants to know where to park their trailer,” Lowrey said. “We’re busy.”

Lowrey isn’t the only one who’s been busy; organizations including the Camp Fire Restoration Project and Restore the Land set up tables to give information for fire survivors.

Event organizer Gary Smith, who co-owns Kai Music & Arts studio, said proceeds from the will be going to the Cohasset Community Association through the nonprofit Artistic Mobilization Platform. The money came beer sales with donations from Ramble West and Farmers breweries; shirts by Brad White of Hot White Tees; vendor fees, and an optional $10 donation for the concert.

Smith said he loved seeing people come together for a cause — and a phone call with his friend Kevin Killian led to this quick response to help fire victims.

“Everyone has come together,” Smith said, including the city, the Chico Fire Department, the Chico Police Department and even the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which in less than 24 hours approved their request to serve alcohol.

Helping hands

Wendy McCall, volunteer with From the Ground Up, brought crafted wooden hearts inscribed with “To Cohasset with Love” made by children enrolled in the group’s program for families affected by wildfires. In September, the hearts will be displayed at the old Cohasset welcome sign to send a positive love note to people coming up to town.

The Cohasset Community Association, which will benefit from the concert, was also present — donating clothes that were given to them after the Park Fire.

Association board member Susana Malcom said Cohasset is lucky its community buildings like the church, the fire station and the school survived the fire.

“The bones of the community are still there, so we can rebuild from there,” Malcom said.

So far, the association has been providing people with showers, clothing and food, and worked with the North Valley Community Foundation to create a fund for fire victims. The fund has already helped repair septic tank and rent storage trucks for moving things around, she said, and may soon also give grants directly to people who lost their homes.

After the Park Fire began, Lowery and McCall said their group immediately went to work, offering volunteer labor to help with restoring properties and working with the Cohasset Community Association to write grants.

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“We’re pros, sadly,” Lowery said. “The sad hits me first, then the reality of how we’ve been able to help and make a difference overpowers the sadness, and I think that’s what keeps me going.”

Lowery said feedback from people she talks to is the fuel that empowers her.

“I have the answer to their question, and to me that’s everything because that’s where they can start,” she said. “They’re overwhelmed; it’s going to be a month before they even know what hit them.”