We have 4 primary programs that we volunteer for throughout the year
Disaster Relief
We are not first responders, but we will respond first! Disaster Relief is our primary focus. Any time a natural disaster strikes within our region, we respond immediately. The first 72 hours after a natural disaster are the most critical and usually organized by local volunteers. We provide resources needed by these volunteer first responders and facilitate livestock evacuation services during this time. We strive to organize the chaos that ensues in the immediate aftermath. We network neighbors and volunteers with trained professionals to efficiently and rapidly save as many people, pets, and livestock as humanly possible. Then we transition to donation transportation and distribution for all of the survivors of a crisis. During this phase, our primary focus is making sure the survivors receive what they need. We coordinate donation drop points so they always have the most up to date needs list as possible. We also facilitate transportation logistics if this is needed. Finally, we help survivors rebuild. We network cleanup crews, fundraise for rebuilding supplies, and help survivors traverse the hurdles caused in the wake of a disaster.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for our Disaster Relief Program please contact us now! Preparing for a disaster before it strikes is always more efficient than reacting in the aftermath.
Operation Christmas Relief
The majority of the natural disasters that affect the Pacific Northwest are wildfires. This season varies from year to year, but typically by the time the holidays come around the news has forgotten about the thousands of people that are still in the process of rebuilding their lives. WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN! Throughout the year we record a list of all of the children affected by the natural disasters we helped with. At Christmas time, we follow up with the parents. We ask for four specific items that their child lost and desires to be replaced. We try to replace two of these wants and provide two needs. These items can range from American Girl dolls to specific stuffed animals to crochet/knitted blankets. They almost always hold sentimental value so we try to replace the items as exactly as possible.
We are always looking for volunteers that can aid us in this replication process. If you are interested in volunteering to replicate lost sentimental items please contact us!
Firewood Assistance Program
Our Firewood Assistance Program has a twofold mission. We give firewood to local families in need of winter heating assistance. We acquire this firewood by a combination of generous volunteers and people in need of community service hours to satisfy court requirements. We offer a rehabilitation outlet for people that need community service hours for ANY offence. These people harvest, split, haul, and stack firewood.
If you are interested in volunteering to donate firewood, volunteering to harvest, or in need of Community Service hours, please email contact@Relief-Angels.org
The cost of harvesting firewood is on the rise. If you are interested in sponsoring a cord of wood for a family in need please donate here!
Livestock Evacuation Preparedness
Everyone remembers fire drills from school. We practiced them so that we would know how to respond if the unthinkable happened. We may not be in school anymore, but we still need this knowledge. When not responding to a disaster, we strive to educate people on the most efficient methods of disaster response. Every rancher reading this will concede that trying to load up and evacuate cattle, horses, goats, sheep, lamas, alpacas, and all of the other animals roaming about with the threat of a wildfire looming is nearly an impossible task alone. You are NOT alone! We coordinate neighbors, volunteers, and resources to evacuate efficiently! It is difficult to keep track of every resource offered in the height of a disaster, but if you believe you might be willing it never hurts you to be added to our list. We will only call you if you are needed for a resource you have previously offered.
Even if it wasn’t you this time, it could be you next time! If you are interested in helping your community to be more prepared please click here. If you are willing to volunteer to help your proverbial neighbor on the other side of the county if a tragedy strikes where there is only enough time for one load, they have 6 horses and only a 3 horse trailer please click here to join our possible resource list! Even if you have never seen a horse in person, we can use you. When 17 horses are standing in a foot of mud surrounded by 1/4 of an acre of fencing and a 30′ ravine where a small river once flowed, we need anyone able to pack in a bale of hay to help us save these magnificent animals.
We pray we will never need to call, but if we do, we can’t call if we don’t have your phone number. Please click here if you willing to be on a possible resource list for your community!
YOUR DONATION helps our volunteers transport donations, purchase needed items, rebuilds lives, and restores dignity to human and animal survivors of disasters that have plagued our neighborhoods!
DROPPING OFF DEODORANT may seem miniscule to you, but when it is added to everything everyone else is doing we go from a stick of deodorant to a full trailer load! Every part is necessary!
THE HEARTS BEHIND THE MISSION
Jesse – President
Jesse has been helping people around him since he was knee high to a grasshopper. He has a tendency to do all or nothing. He doesn’t commit to something unless he can pledge 100% to it. He believes in teaching the next generation the wisdom learned from the previous generations. He prioritizes survival and The Constitution at the top of his list for important lessons to pass on. Helping those in need isn’t even a question. He, like many of us, has difficulty conceptualizing how it could be a question for anyone.
Nick – Vice President
Nick will help wholeheartedly and without hesitation! He thrives off of the energy derived from helping others. When called, he will drop everything at 4 AM and leap at the opportunity to serve his community. The smiles and gratitude of survivors is all the paycheck he will ever need!
Laurie – Secretary
We wrangled Laurie into the fold during the Pendleton Floods of 2020. Her heart of gold and passion to serve drove her to reach out to us on behalf of her neighbors and friends. When she learned of our mission, she made it her own to join and help us.
Valerie – Executive Director
Valerie is the busiest stay at home mom you will ever meet. Since joining Relief Angels in 2015, the disaster relief industry has taught her that every disaster is different. There are always plenty of people who want to help, but many do not actually know how or where they can contribute. Her passion for helping others is unparalleled. When you have a need, if God sees fit to grant her the power, she will put the pieces he gives her together and make it happen!
Impact Stories
If you have been personally impacted by Relief Angels, please tell us your story in the comments below!
I wanted to help with the Bootleg Fire and was curious if donations go through your organization where does it go? I assume it is for the victims of the fire?
Thank you!
Gary
Hello Gary, Relief Angels helps with numerous disasters throughout the Pacific Northwest. If you wish for a donation to go specifically to the Bootleg Fire efforts, then please notated that in your donation and we will make sure that is where it goes. This organization does not have any paid staff so 100% of all donations goes either directly to the mission or towards efforts associated such as fuel for transportation and/or maintenance on equipment survivors are using.
Thanks for your blog, nice to read. Do not stop.