The BPE Charitable Donation Challenge
THE BPE CHARITABLE DONATION CHALLENGE
September 19, 2020
We are living in a difficult time, the likes of which our Country has not seen since the Great Depression. Since the COVID-19 pandemic touched our shores in early 2020, businesses across the Country have been forced to close, some temporarily and some permanently. Jobs have been lost. According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13,600,000 working Americans remain unemployed. This does not include the underemployed or those that may be unemployed but unable to obtain unemployment benefits. It is likely that this number is considerably higher.
Nearly 20% of the nationally counted unemployed individuals reside right here in California. According to the most recent Employment Development Department statistics, the California unemployment rate is 13.7%, which accounts for more than 2,590,000 unemployed individuals. These unemployment rates are worse than last decade’s Great Recession and have at points during the course of this pandemic exceeded the unemployment rate of the Great Depression of the 1930’s.
Compounding the suffering of this pandemic is the catastrophic fire season that is currently ongoing in the West. I have a personal connection with each of the three states on the I-5 route.
Washington was my childhood home and where I cut my teeth as an attorney, and where my family still lives. Much of that state has been touched by COVID and by fires this season. The small town of Malden, according to reports, has been destroyed by the Babb fire. Towns like Brewster, Bridgeport and Omak in the Okanogan area are all in danger as a result of fire. The Evans Canyon Fire between Ellensburg, Washington (where I called home before relocating to California) and Yakima continues to burn and threaten the outskirts of these communities.
In Oregon, where I went to law school, at one point more than 10% of the State’s entire population was either evacuated or under evacuation watch orders as a result of fire. The most significant of which is the fire complex between Salem and Portland that is threatening some of the South East suburbs of Portland. Southern and Central Oregon have been touched by fire and much of the town of Talent between Medford and Ashland has been lost to fire.
In California, we have seen the devastation of fire for too many years. Friends of mine lost their home in a few years back in the Courtney Fire near Oakhurst, California. We have encountered and worked with many impacted by the recent Camp Fire and Tubbs Fire. This year more than the 4,000,000 acres have burned in California, including the loss of the town of Berry Creek and all the individuals who have been displaced as a result of the Bay Area fires, the Creek Fire, the Slink Fire and the North Complex Fire.
Hence the purpose of this newsletter. I am not one who routinely contacts others for charitable giving. But extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. It is no secret that many of our fellow citizens are struggling with basic necessities – like food, water, and hygiene supplies. This is where you come in – we are issuing the BPE Charitable Donation Challenge.
We will be accepting donations at our office from Monday, September 21, 2020 to Thursday, October 8, 2020, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Donations will be delivered to the local charities below. Below is a list of items compiled from the below charities that we are seeking to collect and donate.
If you are inclined to make monetary donations, that would be a tremendous help, but we ask that you make any monetary donations directly to the charity of your choice. We know that many people are struggling. If that is you, know that there are people trying to help; and realize that we are not asking you to participate. Please take care of yourself and your family. If you do have the capacity to help we are challenging you to donate.
We have spent the last several days reaching out to local charities and have settled on at this time helping to support the following local charities: (1) WEAVE, Inc. (Sacramento based non-profit dedicated to assisting women and children to get out of abusive environments, on the web at www.weaveinc.org), (2) Loaves and Fishes (Sacramento based non-profit, on the web at www.sacloaves.org), and (3) Redwood Empire Food Bank (Santa Rosa based food bank, on the web at www.refb.org).
All of these local non-profits are doing great work and there are many more. For those of you that want to support a national non-profit, we have been in contact with both the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. Both are doing amazing things assisting evacuated individuals to find temporary shelter. They are both, at this time, requesting monetary donations to help with the relief efforts they are providing.
These are real people, maybe our neighbors, with real problems that need real solutions. No strings attached. Together, we can meet some of these needs and provide a little assistance to those in need.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 916-966-2260 or email me at kbdunnagan@bpelaw.com. If you have questions as to how you or your company can help, feel free to contact our administrative assistant, Meghan Gladwell at 916-966-2260 or by email at meghang@bpelaw.com.
DONATIONS CHALLENGE LIST
Hygienic Products
Shampoo & Conditioner
Body Wash
Deodorant
Face Wash
Brushes, Combs, Clips
Feminine Hygiene Products
Edge Control
Makeup Items
Vaseline or Lip Balm
Sunblock
Tooth brushes and toothpaste
Disposable Razors
Nail Clippers
Cleaning Products
Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting Cleaners
Disinfectant Spray
Laundry Detergent
Paper Towels
Gift Cards ($5 or $10)
Grocery Stores
Fast Food
Gas
Household Items
Twin and Full Sheet Sets
Towels and Wash Clothes
Kitchen Towels and Clothes
Toilet Paper (this is an item that has been specified as a significant need)
Mattress Covers
Blankets and Pillows
Lamps
Laundry and Dishwashing Soap
Tupperware
Plastic Wrap & Ziploc Bags
Vacuums and Mops
Phone Chargers
Clothing Items
(must be new)
Women’s Yoga Pants
Women’s T-Shirts
Men’s Sweatshirts & Pants
Bras
Underwear and Socks
Shoes (any kind)
Children’s clothes
Pajamas
Slippers
Sweatshirts and Jackets
Hangers
Gloves
Ponchos
Knit Hats
Jackets (Men or Women)
Baby Items
(must be new)
Diapers and Pull Ups
Baby Wipes
Baby Wash and Shampoo
Play Rugs
Baby Gates
High Chairs
Car Seats
Strollers
Portable Cribs
Counseling Items
Bus Passes
Beads (any shape or size)
Yoga Pretzels Card Game
The Values Card Game
Food Pantry Items
Bottled Water
Granola Bars
Cereal
Fast Meals (Hamburger Helper)
Water Bottles
Juice Boxes
Snack Foods
Tuna and Canned Meat
Peanut Butter
Canned Soups, Stews, and Chili
Rice and Dry Beans
Canned Fruits and Veggies
Trail Mix or Nuts
Coffee
Miscellaneous
Reading Glasses
Reusable Water Bottles
Sewing Kits
Flashlights and Batteries
Backpacks
Sleeping bags
Blankets
Umbrellas
Activities
Board Games
Play Cards
Coloring & Activity Books
Journals
Books and DVDs
School Supplies
Washable Paint
Art Activity Packages
Recent and Popular Articles From Our Blog:
- March 30 – The CARES Act Stimulus Package Guidance
- April 23 – Pending Legislation in the Wake of COVID-19
- April 28 – A New Reality – Temporary or Permanent – Virtual Showings and Disclosures
- May 12 – Executive Order Creates Worker’s Comp Liability for Small Business
- May 18 – Planning for Bankruptcy
- May 22 – Servant Leadership
- June 8 – Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act is Enacted
- June 10 – Impact to Credit Score After Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
- June 26 – SBA Rolls Out Updated PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
- July 2 – Understanding the Home Equity Sales Contract Act 2020
- July 14 – Governor Rolls Back Re-Opening
THE BPE CHARITABLE DONATION CHALLENGE
September 19, 2020
We are living in a difficult time, the likes of which our Country has not seen since the Great Depression. Since the COVID-19 pandemic touched our shores in early 2020, businesses across the Country have been forced to close, some temporarily and some permanently. Jobs have been lost. According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13,600,000 working Americans remain unemployed. This does not include the underemployed or those that may be unemployed but unable to obtain unemployment benefits. It is likely that this number is considerably higher.
Nearly 20% of the nationally counted unemployed individuals reside right here in California. According to the most recent Employment Development Department statistics, the California unemployment rate is 13.7%, which accounts for more than 2,590,000 unemployed individuals. These unemployment rates are worse than last decade’s Great Recession and have at points during the course of this pandemic exceeded the unemployment rate of the Great Depression of the 1930’s.
Compounding the suffering of this pandemic is the catastrophic fire season that is currently ongoing in the West. I have a personal connection with each of the three states on the I-5 route.
Washington was my childhood home and where I cut my teeth as an attorney, and where my family still lives. Much of that state has been touched by COVID and by fires this season. The small town of Malden, according to reports, has been destroyed by the Babb fire. Towns like Brewster, Bridgeport and Omak in the Okanogan area are all in danger as a result of fire. The Evans Canyon Fire between Ellensburg, Washington (where I called home before relocating to California) and Yakima continues to burn and threaten the outskirts of these communities.
In Oregon, where I went to law school, at one point more than 10% of the State’s entire population was either evacuated or under evacuation watch orders as a result of fire. The most significant of which is the fire complex between Salem and Portland that is threatening some of the South East suburbs of Portland. Southern and Central Oregon have been touched by fire and much of the town of Talent between Medford and Ashland has been lost to fire.
In California, we have seen the devastation of fire for too many years. Friends of mine lost their home in a few years back in the Courtney Fire near Oakhurst, California. We have encountered and worked with many impacted by the recent Camp Fire and Tubbs Fire. This year more than the 4,000,000 acres have burned in California, including the loss of the town of Berry Creek and all the individuals who have been displaced as a result of the Bay Area fires, the Creek Fire, the Slink Fire and the North Complex Fire.
Hence the purpose of this newsletter. I am not one who routinely contacts others for charitable giving. But extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. It is no secret that many of our fellow citizens are struggling with basic necessities – like food, water, and hygiene supplies. This is where you come in – we are issuing the BPE Charitable Donation Challenge.
We will be accepting donations at our office from Monday, September 21, 2020 to Thursday, October 8, 2020, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. Donations will be delivered to the local charities below. Below is a list of items compiled from the below charities that we are seeking to collect and donate.
If you are inclined to make monetary donations, that would be a tremendous help, but we ask that you make any monetary donations directly to the charity of your choice. We know that many people are struggling. If that is you, know that there are people trying to help; and realize that we are not asking you to participate. Please take care of yourself and your family. If you do have the capacity to help we are challenging you to donate.
We have spent the last several days reaching out to local charities and have settled on at this time helping to support the following local charities: (1) WEAVE, Inc. (Sacramento based non-profit dedicated to assisting women and children to get out of abusive environments, on the web at www.weaveinc.org), (2) Loaves and Fishes (Sacramento based non-profit, on the web at www.sacloaves.org), and (3) Redwood Empire Food Bank (Santa Rosa based food bank, on the web at www.refb.org).
All of these local non-profits are doing great work and there are many more. For those of you that want to support a national non-profit, we have been in contact with both the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross. Both are doing amazing things assisting evacuated individuals to find temporary shelter. They are both, at this time, requesting monetary donations to help with the relief efforts they are providing.
These are real people, maybe our neighbors, with real problems that need real solutions. No strings attached. Together, we can meet some of these needs and provide a little assistance to those in need.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 916-966-2260 or email me at kbdunnagan@bpelaw.com. If you have questions as to how you or your company can help, feel free to contact our administrative assistant, Meghan Gladwell at 916-966-2260 or by email at meghang@bpelaw.com.
DONATIONS CHALLENGE LIST
Recent and Popular Articles From Our Blog:
- March 30 – The CARES Act Stimulus Package Guidance
- April 23 – Pending Legislation in the Wake of COVID-19
- April 28 – A New Reality – Temporary or Permanent – Virtual Showings and Disclosures
- May 12 – Executive Order Creates Worker’s Comp Liability for Small Business
- May 18 – Planning for Bankruptcy
- May 22 – Servant Leadership
- June 8 – Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act is Enacted
- June 10 – Impact to Credit Score After Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
- June 26 – SBA Rolls Out Updated PPP Loan Forgiveness Application
- July 2 – Understanding the Home Equity Sales Contract Act 2020
- July 14 – Governor Rolls Back Re-Opening