WINE COUNTRY SUPPORT: It's been a common and urgent question over the last few days among people watching the active fires in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Counties: "What can I do?" Many offers of help have poured in to various agencies since Monday, Oct. 9, with lodging, fortifying meals, clothing, and places to house and care for displaced animals among the heartfelt, let-me-help suggestions. And those kind gestures continue to grow as concerned Californians, and those beyond our state, reach out to comfort those who work and live in wine country. The grape-growing community around Livermore is looking to support and aid their wine-making peers, and, of course, everyone who calls the impacted counties home. The result? The just-announced Livermore Valley Leans In fundraising effort is on now, through Sunday, Oct. 15. There are a few ways to contribute, should you visit a Livermore-area winery in the days ahead, so take a look. One thing to know, before you go?
DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED... at Livermore Valley wineries, if you want to give to the Napa Valley Community Foundation's Disaster Relief Fund, the Community Foundation of Sonoma County's Resilience Fund, and Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Disaster Fund. Your gift can be cash or check or even a gift card, so feel free to give what you can. Adding to the layer of fundraising among the Livermore winemakers? Over a dozen wineries will also be donating a percentage of sales to the relief efforts over the Oct. 14 and 15 weekend, such as Eagle Ridge Winery (10% of sales) and Occasio Winery (10% of sales). Some of the wineries are observing an extended fundraising schedule, from Thursday to Sunday or Monday, so look over the whole list, and then visit the vineyards giving love and donations to their wine-creating coterie to the northwest, as well as the counties at large.
