Winter is coming…and for residents of the McKenzie River Corridor, that means further hardship on top of the Holiday Farm Fire that destroyed more than 400 homes in September. But helpers are preparing in advance.
At the Blue River Relief Center, coordinator Madison Kleiner walks through a school gymnasium filled with donated clothes, food, and appliances.

“We have bedding and towels on our right, we have a bookshelf, we have a game shelf, we have many tables of toys…”
The relief center here is one of three set up along the area hit by wildfires this year. Kleiner says their big focus now is winter preparations.
“So we will be here for at least the next six months. There is a prediction that we will be without power for weeks without any relief this winter, and we’ll be stuck in McKenzie Bridge and Blue River.”
Besides the usual food and clothes, Kleiner hopes people donate winter gear, snowshoes, and camping stoves. Christmas and Hannukah presents are also welcome.
Copyright 2020, KLCC.