Many area churches, businesses and organizations are working to help the victims of the recent wildfires.
Hundreds of families now have to rely on donations as they begin to try and put their lives back together.
All that’s left of Ernie and Tami Teeter’s home is soot and ash. The couple spent a lifetime building his woodworking business and her seamstress shop, but in one swift fire gust their home and two businesses are left in a smoky heap of dust.
"It's devastating, really devastating when you spend half your life building your life to retire and then you get wiped out in one second,” says Ernie Teeter.
The couple were surrounded by smoke and flames and fled with only the clothes on their backs and their animals.
"When we left there the fire was raging left and right, and I went through all of this as a child in World War II in Germany,” says the Berlin born Tami.
"It brought back so many memories I just couldn't hardly contain myself,” she says.
Now, the couple sits at the Red Cross shelter wondering what they will do and where they will go.
"Some clothes would be nice and the women gave me some moisturizer for my face. That was so important,” says Tami.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army are taking financial donations to help out people like the Teeters. You can go to
www.okredcross.org, and click on the “Donate” tab or visit
www.uss.salvationarmy.org.
If you or someone you know is a victim of these recent wildfires, the Red Cross has a shelter set up at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Sand Springs.
There you can get food, clothing, a bed and financial assistance. The Salvation Army is also taking financial donations as well and you can donate water and Gatorade for the firefighters.
Mannford schools are also accepting cash donations for the 61 students and 4 staff members who lost everything. The money will be used to help buy school supplies for the students. If you would like to help out, you can go to
www.mannford.k12.ok.us/ and get more information.
Lake Church in Mannford is also taking donations. They are asking for non-perishable items such as food, water and toiletry items. However, the church says it does not need any more clothing.
