The Camp Fire, which broke out in early November near the town of Paradise, California, was the deadliest wildfire in the United States in a century. The fire killed 86 people, destroyed more than 19,000 buildings, and tens of thousands of people were displaced. The team at CalFlor has felt the impact firsthand.
“Some of our employees lost their homes in the fire. Thousands of people are living in local motels, with friends, and even with strangers. We have a mother and young daughter here, my neighbor has a young couple with a baby,” said Todd Hall, Director – Product Development, CalFlor. “This is unprecedented. You could call it generous, but when everyone knows displaced people, it’s expected.”
During The International Surface Event (TISE) in Las Vegas, CalFlor launched an initiative to support their local community in the recovery efforts. They are currently in the process of seeking donations of both materials and labor for when the rebuilding process begins.
“It may seem early in the process to be talking about flooring, but we felt the earlier, the better,” said Hall. “Material donations and labor are equally needed. We will be looking for not only volunteers to help with the rebuild efforts but also for individuals who would be willing to provide training and support for local skilled laborers. The skilled labor we have lost to date is immense.”
CalFlor’s efforts will focus on rebuilding nonprofits, schools, assisted living facilities, and special needs facilities. Anyone interested in donating or finding out more information can contact the CalFlor team at 888-277-FLOR or campfirehelp@cal-flor.com.