When Wanda Hudspeth lost her Pope Valley home in the 2020 LNU Complex Fire, she didn’t know how she’d be able to recover.
A master gardener living in a small home that had been in her family since the 1950s, Wanda had few financial resources, but endless faith in people.
She turned to UpValley Family Centers, Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa for help, and was connected to disaster case managers who guided Wanda through the recovery and rebuilding process.
Napa Valley Community Foundation, through our Disaster Relief Fund, was able to provide the financial assistance Wanda needed to cover the gap between her insurance and the enormous costs of cleanup and construction.
This October, Wanda is back home, with a new one-bedroom house, a new canine friend, and a huge amount of gratitude.
“I can’t get over the feeling of just being so fortunate, and grateful for the goodness of people,” shares Wanda. “There’s so many people to thank.”
A person with short hair and a pink shirt, representing the Napa Valley Community Foundation (NVCF), smiles while standing next to an open white front door with decorative windows at the top. The light-colored wall in the background adds to the welcoming scene.
A rural landscape with a dirt road leading towards mountains under a clear blue sky. Fields of dry grass and trees border the road, and a lake is visible on the left. A wooden fence, reminiscent of the scenic Napa Valley Community Foundation views, runs alongside the road.
A cozy bedroom with a wooden bed draped in a colorful quilt featuring various patterns. A ceiling fan whirrs above, while a small wooden desk sits in the corner. The sliding glass door lets NVCF’s natural light flood in, illuminating the hardwood flooring beneath.
A small beige house with a green roof sits on a dry, gravel lot embraced by the rustic charm of Napa Valley. A blue car rests nearby, while a stone-lined path meanders to the entrance. The clear sky mirrors the community spirit fostered by NVCF amidst the brown hills and sparse trees.
What is a Community Foundation?
We know you might not know, and that’s ok.
Click the “learn more” link to tuck into the details.
