Donations for California Wildfire Victims in Wine Country

In the days following the historic wildfires that ignited across Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties in early October, we’ve received hundreds of messages from our fans, asking about the safety of the winery employees, the winery and our vineyards. In addition to our overview of the impact the Wine Country wildfires had on Jordan Winery, here’s a list of our latest donation efforts to help the Sonoma County community recover from the most devastating wildfires in California history. We’ve also included a list of easy ways you can help the wildfire recovery, including links to great causes. Let’s work together to keep #SonomaStrong.

How Jordan Winery is Helping Wine Country Wildfire Victims

• The John Jordan Foundation and Jordan Winery teamed up to donate $25,000 to the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation to establish a new housing recovery fund for farm workers and their families displaced by the fires.
• The John Jordan Foundation had already donated more than $2 million to early childhood education and economic stability charities in Sonoma County this year before the wildfires, and his commitment to the advancement of our community will continue. A significant portion of the proceeds from Jordan Winery fund The John Jordan Foundation initiatives.
• John Jordan gave each winery employee in Healdsburg a $500 donation and empowered us to decide how to use the money–give to a fire relief charity, give to a friend/family who lost everything or help cover personal expenses associated with the disaster. He is also providing financial support to the six employees who lost their homes in the wildfires.
• Feeding first responders was critical during the wildfires, as more than 9,500 people were reportedly helping fight the flames. The Jordan culinary team donated vegetables and proteins to Chef Dustin Valette for fire fighter to-go meals, and our chef and his family made sandwiches for Windsor Fire Department fire fighters.
• Chef Knoll also donated non-perishable foods to Redwood Empire Food Bank.
• Jordan Winery donated 100 pumpkins to the Santa Rosa Police Department’s Halloween costume drive. (The photo above is me flanked by Shannon, our mechanic, and Jose, one of our gardeners, who helped harvest and deliver the pumpkins on October 27.)
• Jordan Winery has donated our garden’s excess vegetables, lettuces and herbs to Sonoma Family Meal and will continue to do so.
• Proceeds from Christmas at Jordan ticket sales will support Jordan Winery’s holiday Toys for Tots toy drive and other John Jordan Foundation winter initiatives. Jordan Winery is the largest donor to Toys for Tots each year, and the charity needs even more support in light of the thousands of families affected by the wildfires.
• One of the greatest tragedies of a natural disaster, after loss of life, homes, jobs and cherished possessions, is how quickly the most vulnerable victims are left behind once the spotlight shifts to another unfathomable disaster—and vital resources start to fade. John Jordan feels strongly about filling that gap. One focus area of The John Jordan Foundation in 2018 will be helping local schools that were damaged or destroyed.

How You Can Help Wine Country Recover

• Drink Sonoma and Napa wines, and don’t forget to tell your friends to join the cause. Many wineries are hosting fire relief sales promotions and charity events. In addition to our Christmas at Jordan event ticket sales promotion, a large portion of the proceeds from Jordan wine and olive oil sales year-round will continue to support The John Jordan Foundation’s local philanthropy.
• Plan a visit to Wine Country this fall, next year or both. Many local businesses generate a significant portion of their income during harvest season, and economic impact of these fires could be terrible for many members of our community. This fire affected people at every level of the local wine industry—from the front desk clerks and servers at hotels and restaurants that were destroyed and the tasting room employees and restaurant staff who lost their homes to winemakers, cellar workers and winery owners who fled their neighborhoods with their children in pajamas. When you travel to Wine Country, you’re helping the entire community.
• Donate to one of the Sonoma County charities supporting wildfire victims. A few recommendations include Redwood Empire Food Bank,  Sonoma Family Meal, Redwood Credit Union’s Fire Relief Fund, Sonoma County Resilience Fund, United Way of Wine Country, Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and Sonoma County Humane Society. Donations to the Sonoma Bees Fire Fund will also help the 20 members of our local beekeeping association whose bee farms were destroyed, including Jordan’s beekeeping consultant.