If you are looking for a way to help out those affected by the Holiday Farm Fire, volunteers are needed at Silke Field at Springfield High School and donations are needed at a new drop-off location on Roosevelt Boulevard in Eugene. The field at the high school is a distribution site and the Red Cross and McKenzie River Trust are in need of help to sort, distribute and organize items.

Elizabeth Goward, volunteer coordinator with the McKenzie River Trust says there are a lot of items to organize at the Wildfire Relief Station and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are trying to limit the number of volunteers there and spread them out over longer periods of time.

“Volunteers need to wear face coverings. People also need to understand the severe air quality risks,” she says.

Right now, volunteers are being scheduled through Tuesday for four hour shifts starting at 6 am and the last shift ending at 10 pm. To sign up, visit the McKenzie River Trust website. All volunteers must sign up in advance. Goward says that normally, there is an on-boarding process for new volunteers, but because of the need the Red Cross is having to plug people in the field.

There is also a new donation center opening in north Eugene. St. Vincent de Paul, United Way of Lane County and the Lane County Emergency Operations Center are working with organizers at Silke Field in creating the drop off and sorting location. The site is located at 2699 Roosevelt Boulevard and is open to receive donations starting on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 am to 6 pm each day.

In a press release, Lane County said people should no longer bring donations to Silke Field and the Lane Events Center. The donations already at those locations will be transferred to the north Eugene location.

Goward reminds that the situation is swiftly changing, so check the Lane County website for updates.

“Sites and services and locations are changing really rapidly,” Goward says.