Nika Bartoo-Smith
Underscore Native News + ICT

Note: Please refer to local government and fire agency websites and social media for the most timely information regarding evacuations. For information on where to donate, check with the tribes

As wildfires blaze across Native nations throughout the Pacific Northwest, community organizers have quickly rallied together to support relief efforts for those affected by the devastation left in the wake of the fires. 

ags of supplies including first aid, non-perishable food items, hygiene supplies and water sit in bags at a drop-off site at Bison Coffeehouse in Northeast Portland on July 29, 2026, ready to be taken to Warm Springs later in the day. (Photo by Mackenzie Olivo, Underscore Native News)

In Washington, people on the Colville Reservation in the Nespelem area have had to evacuate their homes due to the Kaiser Canyon Fire, currently the largest active wildfire in Washington state. As of Wednesday, July 29, more than two dozen homes have been taken by the fire, according to community organizers. 

“The whole entire rez is on fire,” said Faith Zacherle Tonasket, a citizen of the Colville Tribes, founder of River Warriors and xa?xa? Indigenous Birth Justice, a nonprofit organization working to support fire victims.  

“We’re all doing what we can to take care of our communities,” she added.

Items needed

For those impacted by wildfires across Oregon and Washington, there is a huge need for supplies including:

  • Water 
  • Personal hygiene supplies — like soap, tampons, pads, toothbrushes
  • Childcare supplies — including diapers, wipes, baby formula and bottles
  • Non-perishable and no-cook foods
  • Gift cards and hotel donations
  • Pet supplies
  • Blankets and pillows
  • Towels
  • New socks
  • Small fans and box fans
  • Filters 
  • N95 masks and respirators
  • Monetary donations

Most of these efforts are being led by community members and non-profit organizations rallying to gather support from across Oregon and Washington during this time of crisis.

“Those systems are already built in, because this is not the first tragedy we’ve experienced,” said Robin-Michel Lenihan, a Two-Spirit citizen of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and a wildfire survivor themself. “Fortunately or unfortunately, we’re trained to do this our whole lives to respond to the needs of our communities.”

Lenihan is the advancement manager at the Native Arts and Culture Foundation, which is currently accepting donations for the Warm Springs community affected by the wildfires.

Organizing for relief

In Oregon, much of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation has had to evacuate homes as well due to the Bench Fire. At least five homes and two buildings have been lost already. 

“I’ll tell you, it’s heavy,” said Gilbert Brown, sitting outside Bison Coffeehouse in Northeast Portland on Wednesday morning, collecting supplies to bring out to Warm Springs later in the day. 

“Little kids can’t go outside because [they] can’t breathe,” Brown said.

Brown, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes who lives on the North end of the Warm Springs Reservation, has been organizing since Monday to bring supplies from Portland to families in Warm Springs. He has not had to evacuate his home yet, and is hosting two other families who had to evacuate. 

“All these places got fires. And we only have so much help for us, so I’m trying to help us,” Brown said. 

His nephew lost his home earlier this week due to the fire. As the fire ate through the foundation of his home it also burned regalia, cultural artifacts and heirlooms that had been in his family for generations.

“Just like that, one fire took it away,” Brown said. 

Where to donate

Below is a list of where to donate for families impacted by fires across Oregon and Washington.

The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

The Warm Springs Water Coalition and individual community members have set up drop-off locations for supplies all across Oregon. 

In the Portland-Metro Area:

  • In Gresham:
    • Representative Ricki Ruiz’s District Office at 135 NW 1st Ave., Suite 1, Gresham, OR 97030. Drop-off Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • In North Portland:
    • Green Anchors at 840 N Bradford St., Portland, OR, 97203. Drop-off from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • In Northeast Portland:
    • Bison Coffeehouse at 3941 NE Cully Blvd., Portland, OR, 97213. Drop-off Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Javelina Indigenous Dining at 4636 NE 42nd Ave., Portland, OR 97218. Drop-off Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    • Five Stride Skate Shop at 4515 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 92711. Drop-off Monday through Saturday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
  • In Southeast Portland:
    • Native Arts & Cultures Foundation at 800 SE 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97214. Drop-off Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Call (503) 766-8458 to meet at the loading dock on Morrison between 10th and 11th.
    • Wool for the People at 1311 SE 9th Ave., Portland, OR 97214. Drop-off Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • In Aloha, Oregon:
    • The 649 at 18647 SW Farmington Rd., Beaverton, OR 97007. Drop-off between 1 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Beyond the Portland-Metro Area:

  • In Bend:
    • Wonderland Chicken at 806 NW Brooks St., Bend, OR 97703.
    • Deschutes Land Trust at 210 NW Irving Ave., Suite 102, Bend, OR 97703. Drop-off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • The Haven Co-working at 1001 SW Disk Dr., Bend, OR 97702. Drop-off Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • In Redmond:
    • Pangaea Guild Hall at 652 SW 6th St., Redmond, OR 97756.
  • In Madras:
    • Madras Garden Depot at 1665 NW US Hwy. 26, Madras, OR 97741.
  • In Government Camp:
    • Mt. Hood Museum at 88900 Government Camp Loop, Government Camp, OR 97208. Email collections@mthoodmuseum.org

For financial donations, donate online to The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Wildfire Recovery Fund here. 

For more information about what to donate, where to donate and who to contact, the Warm Springs Water Coalition has put together a document compiling the information.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation

Drop-off locations include:

  • Omak Eagles Nest at 1168 Bull Rope St., Omak, WA 98841. Contact Leah Cate at (509) 634-1409.
  • Colville Service Center at 3041 State Highway 155, Coulee Dam, WA 99116. Contact Desiree Hertenstein at (509) 634-1963.

For hay donations for horses contact Jessica Utt at (509) 634-1406.

River Warriors and xa?xa? Indigenous Birth Justice is also accepting donations to support boots on the ground relief efforts. To donate, contact Faith Zacherle Tonasket at (509) 631-0460.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

An emergency shelter with clean air for those impacted by the Hagen Fire has been set up at Sunridge Middle School at 700 SW Runnion Ave. in Pendleton, OR 97801.

The Yakama Reservation

The Yakama Nation tribal government is currently accepting monetary donations to support families impacted by the Signal Peak wildfire that started July 24.

The nation is also accepting donations at a central drop-off location located at the Sprung Structure: 150 Robbins Rd., Toppenish, WA 98948.

For donation questions, contact Elizabeth Sanchey at whiteswanfire@yakama.com or (509) 945-2939.

This story is co-published by Underscore Native News and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest.

Nika Bartoo-Smith is a reporter at Underscore + ICT. Follow her on Twitter: @BartooNika. Osage and Oneida Nations descent, Bartoo-Smith is based in Portland, Oregon.