Calaveras County, CA… Ten volunteers from around Calaveras County were trained this past week to help residents connect with available resources from area agencies to rebuild and recover from the Butte Fire. “We have a solid, trained group so we can start moving at an accelerated pace where people will start to see and feel progress,” said Allen Sender, board member of Calaveras Recovers, a coalition of Calaveras County community groups, churches, businesses and interested people committed to helping individuals and families who were uninsured or underinsured.

The team of 10 was trained over three days by members of the national United Methodist Committee for Relief. The volunteer “personal advocates” were taught to rank cases one through six based on a fire survivor’s needs and priorities – whether they are construction, household, emotional or financial needs.

This training comes on the heels of the international, Christian non-profit World Renew team visiting Mountain Ranch and assessing fire survivors in January. During their visit, the World Renew team made almost 1,000 phone calls to survivors where they spoke with or left messages offering assistance through Calaveras Recovers beyond what the government could offer. More than 90 households met personally with a World Renew volunteer who assessed their needs.

“Our personal advocates have already helped 33 households,” said Sender, noting that all the severely ranked number one cases have been offered immediate assistance.

Personal advocates will continue meeting with as many individuals and families with unmet needs as possible, and will be holding regular office hours beginning next week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Lutheran Church in Mountain Ranch. Survivors may call (209) 297-0970 for more information.
Not only will personal advocates be able to connect survivors with various agencies and non-profits, but they will help to develop a detailed estimate of the total cost for recovery in the community. While one part of the Calaveras Recovers team works to fill survivors’ needs, another part of the organization is working to recruit volunteer organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Mennonite Disaster Services and other national and regional groups to come in and repair or rebuild homes. Still others are securing grants large enough to meet most, if not all, of the unmet needs.

Calaveras Recovers operates under the 501(c)(3) sponsorship of the Amador Community Foundation, Tax ID #68-0447992. For more information see www.CalaverasRecovers.org