Helping Kids Rendered Homeless Amid The Almeda Fire in Oregon

By The Girls Education First Staff

Strong-willed and determined to forge ahead

Last September, as the Almeda wildfire rapidly spread through the state of Oregon, seven-year-old Carina was only able to pack a few essential items as her family fled their home. She left behind all of her possessions as the smoke and flames quickly closed in. Thankfully, the fires didn’t cross into her complex, but many of the buildings and mobile homes in her neighborhood have been reduced to ash. 

Carina has been part of the Boys & Girls Clubs family since kindergarten. She began attending after school with her big brown eyes and contagious smile. Now in second grade, Carina is a best friend to anyone she meets, checking in with their feelings, ensuring they have what they need, and are following the Club’s rules. Her favorite activities are related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) – and the messier the activity, the better!

• 

Eight months after the fire, her nightmares are just starting to ease. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley was able to reopen during school-time hours to provide families with support for virtual learning. Carina was one of the first to join the program, saying that she thinks of it as ‘her safe place.’ Her parents have shown so much gratitude for the Club, expressing that the Club’s positive environment played a “huge part” in her recovery.

As her parents, Adrienne and Dante put it “After the fires, going to Boys and Girls Club gave our daughter Carina so much joy! It gave her a break from the stress of the fire. She played with her classmates and talked with the staff. She forgot about the fires and got to be a kid in an environment that she perceives as very supportive and caring. Carina’s nightmares and fears related to fire have generally stopped. She is her usual happy self. She will never forget the fire, but she has recovered. Having the Boys and Girls Club in Talent to go to after the fire was a huge part of her recovery. For this, we are extremely grateful.”

GEFF and The Boys & Girls Clubs of The Rogue Valley

Amid the wildfires, the Girls Education First Foundation made a donation of backpacks and art supplies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley in support of the children struggling to reconnect with normalcy. Through our School Assistance Program, we were able to provide them with learning tools that will help increase their learning skills through activities they are passionate about. Moreover, this action aims to help improve their mental health for a better outcome in the near future.

Our commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley is to continue to provide year-round assistance to these children to help them find the confidence and self-esteem they will need in the future.

Improving Girls’ Education Around The World

At GEFF, we strongly believe that education enables upward socioeconomic mobility and is a key to a more enriched life. The Foundation is committed to supporting a wide array of efforts to promote a safe, fair, and quality education for underserved children. Collaboration plays an important part in our mission to forge strong ties with other grassroots organizations and academic institutions. Girls around the world need your help and support. Please consider making a donation on our website. Ninety percent (90%) of every dollar goes directly to helping underserved our girls.