American Red Cross volunteers, from left, are local Disaster Action Team (DAT) leader Joan Bowling of Canyon City, DAT coordinator Cindy Morman of Bend, Mark Chism of Otter Rock with disaster services and DAT member Jim Spell of John Day. The volunteers will be on hand at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in John Day this week to provide assistance to those affected by the fire.

JOHN DAY – There is a growing list of resources available to people displaced from their homes due to the Canyon Creek Complex fire.

The list includes:

• Multi-Area Resource Center, Grant Union High School at 911 S. Canyon Blvd. in John Day, 10 a.m.-noon, Thursday

• American Red Cross Disaster Human Resource Services, LDS Church at 944 E. Main in John Day, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday-Saturday and Sunday afternoon

• Fairgrounds Fire Relief Center, at 411 NW Bridge St. in John Day, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday (an after-hours number will be posted on the pavilion door)

• Clothing at the old Blue Mountain Junior High library on Canton Street next to Kam Wah Chung Interpretive Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday

A Multi-Area Resource Center will be set up at the Grant Union Junior-Senior High School old gym from 10 a.m.-noon tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 20, to assist people displaced by the Canyon Creek Complex fire.

Representatives from Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative, Len’s Drug pharmacy, Blue Mountain Hospital, Grant County Planning Department, county records department, local realtors, American Red Cross and many others will be there to provide information and resources.

The help is for those whose homes were destroyed, damaged, or those who cannot reach their homes due to evacuation orders.

Kathy Cancilla of Mt. Vernon is coordinating the project with help from other volunteers on the Fairgrounds Fire Relief Center committee.

“We live in Grant County, and we know that we take care of each other,” she said. “This is just one more example of people stepping up to help others.”

She was eager to get the message out about the assistance, especially for those who no longer have a land line telephone, cellphone service or the Internet.

Flyers were being printed and distributed.

“It’s just a matter of getting the word out about all the resources that are available,” Cancilla said.

The American Red Cross is closing their shelter in Mt. Vernon, but will continue to offer Disaster Human Resource Services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Volunteers are on hand to help people displaced from their home – they’ll receive a client number which will streamline, not only, Red Cross services, but also assistance from other agencies.

Red Cross can provide temporary relief, including issuing Client Assistance Cards (CAC), good for items such as food and clothing, etc. – anything except tobacco and alcohol.

Licensed medical and mental health counselors will be available. Volunteers can help with lost medications, glasses, dentures and can help work with insurance companies, said Mark Chism of Otter Rock, a Disaster Services worker.

They are also distributing shovels, rakes, buckets, flashlights, lanterns, bottled water, etc.

At the Grant County Fairgrounds, the fire relief center has what one volunteer says is like a mini big box store with various goods available, including food, hair brushes, toothbrushes, laundry detergent, bedding, etc.

They are operating Monday through Friday, and will open for weekend hours if there are more volunteers.

Cancilla said some large corporations, churches and others would be donating and shipping more of the needed supplies, including heavy duty extension cords, gloves, rakes and shovels.

Clients who fill out an intake form may receive donated funds which are being distributed through Old West Federal Credit Union.

Cancilla said if a client needs a wheelbarrow and work boots, the amount needed would be assessed and distributed.

People can donate money to the credit union, contributing to a specific person, a group, or the general fund.

Clothing is available at the old Blue Mountain Junior High library, off Canton Street. Fairgrounds Fire Relief Center volunteers are only accepting new clothing.