Lobeck Taylor Foundation To Match Red Cross Wildfire Donations

A grant provided by The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation will match, dollar for dollar, donations to the American Red Cross in the wake of the massive wildfires in Creek and Payne Counties, the organization announced Wednesday.

The program is being facilitated by Tulsa Community Foundation.

The matching grant will benefit the Tulsa-Area Red Cross as it continues to assist families left homeless by the devastating fires earlier this month by providing emergency disaster relief resources and services, the foundation said.

"We recognize the great needs of these Oklahoma families in the face of the crippling losses, and we want to help," said Elizabeth Frame Ellison, Executive Director of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation said in a statement. "We want to help these families rebuild their lives in Oklahoma, and we hope that this matching grant will inspire other foundations, businesses and individuals to step forward, as well."

Ninety square miles burned in Creek County over the first weekend of August. At last calculation, more than 380 homes in Creek County bad become piles of ash.

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Statewide, the Red Cross served more than 39,500 meals, snacks and bottled drinks and deployed more than 200 Red Cross volunteers and staff to care for those devastated by the wildfires, the news release said.

To further assist families in the recovery process, the Red Cross said it distributed nearly 7,700 items including rakes, shovels, dust masks, sift boxes and comfort kits containing personal care items. Statewide, Red Cross said it has opened more than 400 cases to help families move along the road to recovery.

Those wishing to donate to the Lobeck Taylor Foundation Oklahoma Wildfire Fund can make a secure donation online at www.TulsaCF.org, click the "Give Now" tab and select the Oklahoma Wildfire Fund (under section 2, your information) from the "Fund Name" drop down list. Donations may also be submitted by check and payable to Tulsa Community Foundation, Oklahoma Wildfire Fund to: Tulsa Community Foundation, 7030 S. Yale Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136.