Last November, Paradise Intermediate School teacher, Linda, saw her classroom for the very last time. A normal school day was suddenly interrupted as the sky darkened with smoke and ash from a nearby wildfire. An evacuation was called, and Linda, along with four students, clambered into her car and fled.
The wildfire devastated Paradise and was later determined the most destructive wildfire in California’s history.
When asked about the fire’s impact, Linda said, “80% of the school’s teachers and administrators had lost their homes. Twenty-one years of my supplies, books, curriculum, and units I had created were now in ashes.”
It has been nearly a year since the Camp Fire razed Paradise, displaced families, and disrupted lives. While the immediate danger of the fire has passed, Paradise still feels the impact. Trauma from the event permeates daily life for teachers and students. Rebuilding infrastructure and replacing what was lost is overwhelming for everyone. Teachers who already spend their own money on school supplies realize they have to replace a career’s worth of supplies.
To help, we started the California Wildfire Disaster Relief Fund and donors from across the country came together to support the California communities impacted by the Camp Fire. To date, AdoptAClassroom.org donors have raised more than $27,000.
$23,000 was raised specifically to support schools in the Paradise School District. We were able to surprise them this back-to-school season with your generous donations!
The generosity of AdoptAClassroom.org donors uplifted this community for back-to-school season. Thank you to the incredible donors who gave to the California Wildfire Disaster Relief fund.
You can also show your support by making a direct gift.