A local company is helping farmers with pets and livestock in Eastern Washington who were affected by the summer fires there.

Janice M. Danielson is the project manager of Bainbridge Storage and Bainbridge North Storage.

“We got to see the devastation first hand when we drove up to Okanogon two weeks ago,” she says in an email to the Review. “The grounds/grazing pastures for all the horses, cows and wildlife are scorched. Their economy has been hit hard by not only the COVID-19 pandemic but by the wildfires as well.”

She said the company helps locally with food, clothing and toiletries drives and fund-raisers for nonprofits like PAWS, West Sound Wildlife, Kitsap Human Society, Canopy Cats Rescue, and more. But this year they haven’t done as much due to the coronavirus.

They have been helping victims of fires in Okanogan-Omak. She and teammate Isabelle R. Cobb have collected pet food and supplies, horse tack and livestock feed and made the 12-hour drive from here to there and back on their days off, paying their own fuel and travel expenses so every cent goes toward helping pets and livestock.

They have sent money to North40 at north40.com/omak-store. People can call North40 and purchase a gift card and assign it to “Fire Relief.” Danielson said they also raised $1,200 and put it into an account at Valley Lumber, www.valleylumbercorp.com, to help pay for fencing supplies. People can also call Valley Lumber and donate to “Fire Relief,” she said.

Especially with winter coming, farmers will be in need of hay. To help with that, Danielson suggests donations to Okandogs at okandogs.com. “Okandogs is a small group that has been able to secure tons of hay to keep the livestock fed in that area,” Danielson says, adding she is trying to set up an “Adopt a bale” program where people for $50 can donate 1,200 pounds of hay.