Team collects school supplies for children affected by the Camp Fire

Nov. 26--From clean water to pet food and school supplies, Sutter County Fire is making sure that those affected by the Camp Fire have what they need to succeed.

Sutter County Fire Captain Scott Jean jumped into action after hearing news of the devastating fire in Butte County. He started collecting donations at the Sutter County Fire Station 6 and his efforts quickly grew from basic necessities to gathering school supplies for the children effected by the fire.

Jean first started spreading the word by publishing a post on his Facebook page the morning after the fire began, writing, "Sutter County and Sutter volunteer firefighters Association are going to be doing a drop off point for Fire Victims at the Sutter Fire Station."

The post was shared over 100 times and word spread quickly. Donations started flowing in to the firehouse by the truckloads.

"Donations come in from all over the state," Jean said.

Within 24 hours, the station had received a semi truck trailer load worth of water, cat and dog food, cat litter, clothing, toiletries and other donations.

"This far exceeded our goal. We started off hoping to get one pallet of water," Jean said.

Because of the overwhelming out pour of donations Jean has expanded his efforts. He partnered with Taylor Ford, founder of Educational Hope for the Children of Butte County, to address another important need.

Educational Hope for the Children of Butte County is a fundraiser created to provide school supplies to the children displaced by the Camp Fire.

"I really wanted to focus on raising money for the children in order to help them purchase all the school supplies they need in order to be successful," Ford wrote on the fundraiser's Facebook page. Over 1000 children will be moving to a new school because their school burned down in the Camp Fire.

"Our goal was to collect enough supples to create 200 packs," Jean said.

Donations of school supplies were collected at the firehouse in addition to the basic necessities already being collected there. Cash donations were also collected through the fundraiser's Facebook page.

In just 10 days, the fundraiser exceeded its goal. As of Sunday morning, the fundraiser collected $2,470 and over 200 backpacks had been donated. Numerous boxes of supplies including paper, pencils, pens, crayons, glue sticks, binders and scissors have also been donated.

Jean will begin building kits at the firehouse early this week. He is still working with school officials in Butte County to set up a time to distribute these kits to the children before they return to school on Dec. 3.

Since Jean's Facebook post, donations of all kinds have been coming into the firehouse daily. As of Sunday morning, Jean reported that the station had collected at least 15 pallets of water, five pallets of dog food, three pallets of cat food, cat litter, as well as numerous clothes, toiletries, diapers and paper goods.

Many of the donations have already been loaded up and distributed to evacuees and pets staying at the Yuba Sutter Fairgrounds, Whitaker Hall and those in Butte County. Jean plans to make two more trips this week. He will be taking donated pet food and supplies to dog kennels in the area as well as delivering a pallet of water and other supplies to the 28 people residing in Colusa after the evacuations. Thirty families have also come directly to the firehouse to pick up donations.

Outside of the firehouse, the trailer continues to be stocked with clothing, toiletries, diapers and paper goods ready and waiting for those in need. Jean plans to keep this trailer at the station, stock with supplies for as long as it is needed. Any remaining supplies will be included in a big donation to the victims of the Camp Fire.

"I'm going to make sure it all stays local," Jean said.

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