Timber Products Employees & Customers Raise Funds for Families Impacted by Oregon Wildfires
The year 2020 has been like no other and the 2020 wildfire season in the West was one of the most catastrophic in history. Across the western U.S., many states saw record acreages of forest burn. In Oregon alone, 967 fires burned over one million acres and destroyed a staggering 4,000 homes.[1]
The impact of these fires was huge, forcing mass evacuations, closing highways, and threatening thousands of homes and businesses. While Timber Products facilities were not directly impacted by the fires, the lives of many of our employees were directly impacted with dozens being forced to evacuate their homes. Unfortunately, the families of nine Timber Products employees suffered the loss of their home in the Almeda fire.
When senior management at Timber Products learned of the impact on the employees, swift action was taken to help. The team developed a GoFundMe campaign to raise fire relief funds to help the affected families.
“After hearing from numerous other employees, partners, and customers who wanted to help, senior management decided the GoFundMe campaign would be the best way to give everyone the opportunity to assist employees,” said Bill Nevell, VP of Human Resources at Timber Products.
After a few short weeks of the fundraiser being active, more than 100 Timber Products employees, customers and suppliers donated approximately $40,000 to the GoFundMe campaign. The Gonyea family made a generous match to the donations. Each of the nine families affected received a check for $10,500 to help them reestablish their lives.
“The generosity displayed by employees, the Gonyea family, vendors, and customers was so wonderful to see, and speaks to how much everyone associated with TP cares about our employees and their well-being,” said Nevell. “We always have, and always will, rally around employees who are in need.”
On behalf of the impacted families, Timber Products would like to thank everyone for their generosity.