Flood Relief Update: $100,000 Still Needed
$50,037 Raised to Date January 12, 2006

 
  Dear Friend of the Solar Living Institute:

As we reported to you Jan. 4, the Solar Living Center in Hopland, California, was hit on New Year's Eve by the worst flood in the area in over 50 years. The Solar Living Institute, our environmental education nonprofit organization, resides on this site. While the devastation to the site, our projects, and equipment are staggering, the outpouring of support has been truly inspiring. We still need your help however. If you have yet to contribute or would like to increase your support, please take a minute now to donate to help us recover.

 
 
The Good News... Over $50,000 Raised

The good news is that we have had a tremendous outpouring of support. Over 260 people have contributed $50,037, or 33% of the $150,000 we need to replace the damages to our projects and equipment. (Note: These damages are what was sustained by the Solar Living Institute, the environmental education nonprofit organization here at the Center that brings you sustainable living workshops and SolFest each year.) Additionally, over 50 volunteers came to the Solar Living Center on Saturday to help the Institute dig out of the mud, and we have another volunteer cleanup day scheduled for Sat., Jan. 21. If you can help, please sign up.

Additionally, we are being loaned two to three trailers to house our interns temporarily, and have been given a much-needed diesel truck. Thanks to everyone for their generous support!

(Note: The adjacent picture shows our team of volunteers last Saturday lifting the frame of the intern dome, the only part that remains, and moving it to another location.)

Please give generously to help us rebuild...
 
 
The Challenge... We Still Need $100,000

We continue to estimate that a minimum of $150,000 in direct damages were done to our nonprofit's projects and equipment, none of which are covered by flood insurance. While we have raised one-third of that amount in a week, we still need $100,000 to fully rebuild.

For more information...
 
 
What Were the Damages?

The geodesic dome that housed the interns burned to the ground, destroying furnishings, the intern living quarters, the solar systems, and their kitchen. Five vehicles were submerged and destroyed including an intern's car, two Institute trucks and a van, and all of our natural building projects on site were damaged or destroyed. Archives, tools, workshop and SolFest materials and stage, furniture and personal property, and three Institute storage units were destroyed. Rebuilding plans have begun, but we still desperately need funds to accomplish the rebuilding in the upcoming months to be ready for SolFest on Aug. 19-20.

To donate now...
 
 
Over 260 Have Donated - Over 40 Volunteers

In only one week, we have raised $50,037 from over 260 individuals and businesses (see our campaign progress thermometer), but much more is needed to restore our educational projects and facilities.

Learn more about our Flood Fund campaign...
 
 
A Special Thanks

We would like to extend a special "thank you" to the following individuals and companies who have each given $500 or more: Richard Jordan, Mark Juedeman, Bion Howard, Lisa Scales, Whole Foods Markets (Mid- Atlantic, Southern Pacific, and Northern California Regions), David Linder, Thomas Marino, Ruth Ghia, Jason Miller, Zhena's Gypsy Tea, Joseph Marino, Rudi Wiedemann - Biodiesel Solutions, PowerLight, John Roulac - Nutiva Hemp Products, Jeff and Vicki Oldham, Nicholas Harmon - Verilux, Inc., Dan Chiras, Jeanne Trombly, Paul Stamets - Fungi Perfecti LLC, Steve Heckeroth, J. Holden, Tim Blair, and Doug Meeker.
 
 
Please Donate Generously -- We Still Need Another $100,000.

Please consider giving as generously as you can...
 
 

Thanks for your support!

For our Future,

John Schaeffer, Founder and President
Bob Gragson, Executive Director

email: bob.gragson@solarliving.org
phone: 707-744-1527
web: http://www.solarliving.org
 
 


Solar Living Institute | P. O. Box 836 | 13771 S. Hwy. 101 | Hopland | CA | 95449





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