BEND, OR -- Nearly 9,000 buildings have been destroyed by the Camp Fire in northern California; the death toll hit 48 after six more bodies were discovered Tuesday in Paradise, which has been mostly destroyed. The Camp Fire is now considered 35% contained and no rain is expected in the area until at least late next week.
An Oregon-based coffee company wants to help those devastated by the wildfires. Josh Kimzey owns 10 Dutch Bros Coffee locations in Central Oregon. He tells KBND News, "We have so many people in the community [and] employees that are affected indirectly, we’ve got employees that have family members that live in that area, we have employees that have transferred from the Dutch Bros Coffees, there. And it just kind of struck us that it really is a small world and the devastation is – I can’t even imagine."
The company, headquartered in Grants Pass, announced Tuesday it would collect donations at all 320+ Dutch Bros Coffee stands across seven states, "We’ve got a bucket set aside for cash donations. Every store is also equipped to take card donations," says Kimzey, "Up to $150,000, Dutch Bros Coffee is going to match. Those moneys go to the Salvation Army, the United Way and North Valley Community Foundation." In a statement issued by the CEO, Travis Boersma says, "Matching donations is one of several steps we'll be taking to help support the communities we love as they begin the process of rebuilding."
But, Kimzey says his local employees wanted to do more for the approximately 100 Dutch Bros employees impacted by the fires. "Everyone – all the employees, everyone in those communities lost everything. So, in addition to the cash donations, also all the employees are getting together, putting together clothes and hygiene items, and shoes and all kinds of stuff that we’re going to ship down there, as well; just, internally." Kimzey says he doesn't know how many Dutch Bros locations have been destroyed, "I did see a video on Facebook that, randomly in the background, you could see the Dutch Bros sign and building amid the flames. But as to the status of the actual stores, no one can get in to verify."
