It’s been said that humans rise to their best when things are at their worst.
Evidence of this has been shaky on our national stage lately. But it has been a bankable truth at the community level in the wake of the worst fire season in U.S. history. And, that best emerged in unexpected and life-affirming ways.
Teenage brothers George and Henri Danzelaud are not new to animal rescue. Together, they have lobbied for stronger animal rights legislation, volunteered at local shelters, collected donated pet food, cleaned stalls and pastures, moved hay bales and built horse pens at a horse and donkey sanctuary. But they wanted to do even more.
So, before a live YouTube audience last fall, the pair drew their rosined bows across violin and cello, fluttered fingers over keyboards and sang their hearts out to raise money for the Oregon Humane Society (OHS). Selections spanned musical genres and featured works from Coldplay, Bach, Bruch and Gdanz. More than 300 people tuned in to their concert and they raised $5,500 for OHS.
George, 17, has performed as a soloist violinist at Carnegie Hall and wrote/published three songs after teaching himself the guitar. Henri, 14, a talented cellist, was accepted and performed at NW Quartet Fest and also OMEA All-State Orchestra where he was 2nd cellist. He also plays piano.
One hearty team of Red Cross volunteers pulled an all-nighter to help two- and four-legged evacuees of Oregon’s Holiday Farm Fire find refuge, comfort and basic necessities. One dedicated volunteer literally gave until it hurt.
Katherine McCoy, a Red Cross volunteer, and her husband, Kenneth, directed evacuees to the grounds of a local school converted into a safe staging area. They also dispersed supplies and warm drinks all night and well into the day, all the while exposing themselves to noxious smoke. Ms. McCoy persisted in her efforts, even as her back gave out.
The staging area allowed the Red Cross to assess and tend to the immediate health and material needs of evacuees. It also served as a donation hub where community members brought food, water, clothes, toiletries, pet food and any essentials that evacuees did not have time to bring with them.
When tens of thousands of rural Oregonians in the wildfire’s path evacuated, many had to leave their farm animals behind — but they knew exactly where to turn.
Within 10 minutes of receiving a Google doc form, Cowgirl 911 dispatched all forms of wheels on the ground to retrieve and transport livestock to safety. Inspired by its California counterpart, Cowboy 911, The Facebook group is 17,000 members strong and was assembled in one day.
Katie Schrock, founder of Cowgirl 911, incorporated her organizing and scheduling skills to jump start the effort. She also enlisted a data analyst and a logistics manager to keep the system humming. As evacuations were downgraded, dispatchers worked in reverse to help owners pick up their animals and transport them back home.
Schrock estimated that the evacuation effort probably saved more than 20,000 animals.
Not even raging wildfires can stand up to our best.