NOTE: This post will be updated as new efforts and events are announced.

Last night, a family displaced by last weekend’s five-alarm fire left the Salvation Army shelter where they’ve been living ever since they were forced to flee from their home. Bernal neighbor Sana Saleem reports that the family and their one year-old daughter moved into a local Airbnb provided for free under the company’s disaster recovery program. It’s just a beginning, of course, but it’s an encouraging sign that efforts to help displaced residents and small businesses get back on their feet are gaining momentum.

Simultaneously, a broad array of community members are coming together to raise funds that will assist the victims of last weekend’s fire in a longer-term way. As Bernalwood emphasized earlier this week, this recovery effort is a marathon, not a sprint.  Here’s a summary of how you can contribute to fundraising efforts for the fire victims:

FUNDS
The Mission Economic Development Agency has created a fund for fire victims, and yesterday MEDA launched a dedicated webpage where anyone can contribute.  100% of donations will go directly to tenants impacted by fires in residential buildings in and around the Mission. Added bonus: Donations to the Mission Tenants’ Fire Fund are tax deductible.

Edwin Lindo’s fundraising effort is also continuing. The fund has collected $38,500 as of this writing, with a goal of $100K. Apart from gofundme’s fees, all the donations will go to fire victims.

EVENTS
Friday, June 24, 4 pm – closing @Doc’s Clock (2575Mission near 22nd): This Friday 50% of all proceeds from drinks served at the divetastic Doc’s Clocks bar will go to MEDA’s fire victim’s fund.

Sunday, June 26, 3 pm – 6 pm @Barebottle Brewing Co. (1525 Cortland): Barebottle is having a fundraiser for the fire victims in their gorgeous new brewery and tap room, Sunday June 26, 3-6pm. 50% of all beer proceeds will be donated to fire victims.

Thursday, June 30 8 pm – 11:30 pm @El Rio (3158 Mission near Precita): The Fundraiser for Survivors of Mission Fire on Mission St & 29th will be a great way to have some fun and amplify your impact. The door fee will be $10 with no one turned away, and a generous corporate donor has offered to match all proceeds collected at the door.  The fabulous El Rio team is also donating all bar proceeds from 8pm -12am  to the fund.  There will be music, a raffle, and one very beautiful community coming together to help. Bernalwood is a co-sponsor, and complete details are here.

Wednesday, July 13 @Elbo Room (Tentative): Can’t make it to El Rio next week? Don’t worry about it. This one is just coming together, but the beloved Elbo Room also reached out to Bernalwood with an offer to host a fundraising event for Bernal fire victims. We’ve picked a tentative date, and the rest is TBD, but we’re hopeful a corporate donor will again match donations from the door proceeds . Pencil this in on your calendar, and stay tuned for more details soon.

In addition, InsideScoop created a great summary of fundraising efforts announced by restaurants and bars along our stretch of Mission Street. If you’re hungry, or thirsty, here’s how you can help:

Front Porch: Until July 1, 10 percent of sales will go to fire victims through the Red Cross, as will all profits on the evening of July 5, during a larger benefit. In addition, the restaurant is spearheading a Bucket Brigade (it specializes in buckets of chickens) with gold buckets behind the bar to collect additional cash donations. Nearby Rock Bar will also be participating. The goal is to raise at least $3,300 in honor of 3300 Club.

Ichi Sushi: Starting June 27, all sales from Yuzu Chicken Wings and Lavender Lemonade will be sent to neighborhood funds that support those displaced by the fire. The restaurant also plans to host a fundraising dinner with other chefs in the near future.

Old Bus Tavern: Net proceeds from sales of Pisco Punch (made with Pisco, lime juice, pineapple and clove) will be donated to victims of the fire.

The Pizza Hacker and Blue Plate, located nearby, say they plan to announce fundraising plans soon.

Sidebar: InsideScoop’s article is a great read that provides insight into the close-knit bar and restaurant community in La Lengua.  It also includes this inspiring shout-out for two establishments that swung into action even as the fire was still burning hot:

Restaurants in the immediate area had to close Saturday night, and some began feeding the firefighters instead. Front Porch supplied fried chicken and iced tea, and Good Frikin Chicken set up a table with rotisserie chickens, rice, falafel and homemade mac n cheese.

AID FOR FIRE-DAMAGED SMALL BUSINESSES
Small Business Relief Fund created by the Mission Bernal Merchants Association: MBMA is the merchants’ group along along Bernal’s Mission Street corridor, and the organization is raising funds to help fire-damaged businesses recover, relocate, and start the rebuilding process to get back up and running as soon as possible. Donations to this fund are tax-deductible.

For the small businesses impacted by the fire, today also brought a ray of sunshine from City Hall. The Examiner reports that each small businesses may each receive $10,000 from a special City fund designed to help them get back on their feet:

In response to the fire, Mayor Ed Lee directed the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to activate The City’s Small Business Disaster Relief Fund, which provides emergency money to small businesses affected by the fire. There’s about $200,000 available in the fund. Businesses will take advantage of the disaster relief money, and paperwork is already underway to secure funds for those businesses.

Got all that? Earlier in the week, Bernalwood urged you to keep your wallets and checkbooks warm for future use, and hopefully you now understand why: There are a lot of ways to help the victims of the fire recover. Thanks for your generosity, and special thanks to all the people, companies, organizations, and agencies that have worked tirelessly this week to launch these recovery efforts.

PHOTO: Top, Neighbors displaced by the Mission Street Fire on Saturday evening. Photo courtesy of Sana Saleem