Frequently Asked Questions

Any family or individual that has been impacted by a man-made or natural disaster. To receive long term services you will need to show proof of loss of property and a photo ID to start the registration process. Proof of loss can include American Red Cross registration, FEMA Approval Letter, Insurance Claim or a Fire Department Report.

You can email us at UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com or call us at 707-489-3970 to set up an appointment. To start the registration process you will need to bring proof of loss and your photo ID. Proof of loss may be one of the following items: FEMA approval letter, insurance claim, American Red Cross registration, fire department or other agency report.

We understand each type of disaster and case can be unique. We also understand that when you are evacuating from a disaster you may not have time to collect important documents. Please contact us to see how we can best help you until you are able to obtain duplicate copies of your documents. We can also at times help you with that process. Often DMV can provide a free replacement.

Our team of 30 volunteers can assist you with advocacy, rental applications, grant writing, FEMA appeals, communication with other local and national organizations, debris removal understanding, material goods, furniture, a place to connect with other survivors, break room to eat and drink, massage chair, laundry facility, office and internet.

Each client is unique. We help evacuees for weeks or months after a disaster depending on the severity of the disaster. We help people that have lost their home or suffered major damage or loss of life for up to 3 years after their disaster. In some cases, we can assist individuals that have lost their business due to a disaster, if this was their main source of income.

Please contact us by email at UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com or by phone at 707-489-3970 to begin the registration process. You can also visit our Ukiah location at 1240 Airport Park Blvd. Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. to pick up a volunteer packet.

Our volunteers can work 1 hour a week or more. They can work 1 day a month or more. Every hour helps our center and our clients. You can volunteer every week at a set time or have flexible hours and days you work. We can discuss what works best for you.

We offer different volunteer jobs and tasks that meet the needs of our clients and volunteers. There is light office work, phone calls, greeting people, assisting clients, making gift bags, janitorial, maintenance, forklift operating, laundry, sorting, organizing, picking up furniture and more.

We ask that people wanting to donate furniture to first send a picture to our email at UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com so we can see if the furniture piece meets our client’s needs, is in good condition and to arrange pickup or delivery time. The furniture most be in good working condition, look nice and free of water and rodent damage. If we agree to accept the item and pickup is required we will provide a Moving Cost Donation Calculation which will include a minimum suggested donation for mileage, trailer rental and volunteer meals depending on the extent of the furniture load.

We can accept mattresses if in good condition and fairly new. We prefer them to be no more than 2 years old, protected by a mattress cover, free of holes and stains and no springs showing or felt when laying on the mattress. Please send a photo by way of email to UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com for approval prior to delivery or pickup. If we agree to accept the mattress and pickup is required we will provide a suggested minimum donation calculation for mileage and other costs associated with the load.

Yes, if the items are in good clean condition, free of chips, stains and cracks and all parts are included. We prefer items that have newer electrical plugs. Tupperware with missing lids, miscellaneous mugs with business names nor wine glasses will be accepted at this time.

Yes, if the linen items are washed, organized and free of holes and stains. Examples are sheet sets, pillow cases, towels, rags, blankets and bathroom mats. We can accept rags at times, but this must be prearranged. If you have partial sets of sheets or towels and rags with light stains we suggest donating them to your local animal shelter.

We can accept most small appliances if they are in working condition, clean, have all parts, and fairly new. If you would like to donate a large appliance you will need to send a photo of the item by email to UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com to see if the item meets our clients needs. If pickup is required we will provide a minimum donation calculation for costs associated with the load.

All our staff, including our office team and director, are volunteers. You can be confident that 100% of your donation goes to support clients.

UDRNC is fiscally sponsored by North Coast Opportunities a non profit organization that has been successfully operating for over 50 years and serves Mendocino and Lake County. Additional information on this partnership at this link:

https://www.ncoinc.org/fs/united-disaster-relief/

Click this link to be directed to our Actual needs list via our Facebook page:

See our Actual Needs List

We are able to make appointments after business hours or on the weekends. Please email us at UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com or call us at 707-489-3970 to make those arrangements.

Yes, we can arrange delivery of furniture to clients’ new houses or rentals within a certain distance and free of cost.

Yes, if the items are new. At this time we are only accepting used childrens, mens, womens plus size 1x-5X, mens tall/big and plus size clothing only. We are full on small to XL womens at this time. All clothes must be washed, free of holes and stains and organized. We will only accept a couple of bags from each donor at this time. We may decline clothing donations if we are full that day.

During an active disaster or shortly after, new bras and socks are essential in all sizes. Water, Gatorade, suit cases, new pillows and sleeping bags are also important. For all other items we refer people to look at our Actual Needs List. It is never recommended to donate used clothing until an arrangement is made.

You can donate via PayPal to help secure our new 7,200 sq.ft. building. You can send a check to UDRNC, P.O. Box 662, Ukiah, Ca. 95482. You can help share our donate link and tell your friends and family what UDRNC does to support our community during and after disasters. You can invite us to share what we do at your local clubs and meetings.

Yes, you can drop off gift cards at 1240 Airport Park Blvd. in Ukiah Monday - Friday from 10am-2pm or mail them to UDRNC, P.O. Box 662, Ukiah, Ca. 95482. You can also send a check to our mailing address or make a financial donation via our PayPal Link and send us an email indicating the donation is for clients impacted by a certain fire. Visa gift cards or gift cards for gas, food and clothing are all helpful.

You can help by donating new toys, new clothes, new socks and shoes, new bikes and helmets, new back packs and school supplies. You can donate visa, clothing stores, game stores, and toy store gift cards. If a shelter allows it you can donate jumping houses or offer food/ice cream truck at set times. Discuss future activities with social services, local county, churches and clubs to help their efforts in supporting children with mental health services after a disaster such as Camp Noah.

Yes, we offer an Amazon Wish List for donors out of the area to conveniently ship donations to our center to help people impacted by a disaster.

Our disaster resource center was in Ukiah for 7 months, Redwood Valley for 3 years and Willits for a few months. We have been in our new building since September of 2021. Our team of volunteers are mostly over the age of 60 and moving can be difficult. We do not believe a community should wait until after a disaster strikes to set up a disaster resource center. Our center is already operating effectively with a solid team of volunteers and trusted by many. If we purchase the building it would provide security and stability for our community and Northern California.

Yes, we help anyone impacted by an individual structure fire such as a house fire, trailer fire, and multi-apartment fire. To register for our services, we will need your American Red Cross Paperwork and your Photo ID along with the Fire Department Report or your Insurance Claim paperwork. Any questions, you can email us at UnitedDisasterRelief@gmail.com

We keep our doors open by fundraising, community donations, small grants and awards. We are not a government entity and depend on the community’s support.