Denair Student Leads Relief Effort for Mariposa Fire Victims

Submitted by Denair High School

A student at Denair High School set aside traditional sports rivalries to provide support for Mariposa County residents affected this summer by the massive Detwiler Fire.

Drew Pritchard, a junior at DHS, was in Monterey with his father in late July as the fire was raging in the rugged terrain just north of the town of Mariposa. Hundreds of people were temporarily evacuated from their homes as firefighters from all over the state battled the flames.

Drew thought of the athletes he had competed against in football, basketball and golf. He told his parents, “We should do something for them,” according to a story published Aug. 3 in the Mariposa Gazette.

Kathy and Dale Pritchard, Drew’s parents, encouraged their son. They spent a few hundred dollars buying groceries to donate to Mariposa families. When others in Denair found out, they also chipped in. The Pritchards’ doctor donated some medical supplies, Save Mart provided bottled water and Raley’s chipped in cookies.

On July 27, Drew and his father drove to Mariposa High School, accompanied by Denair student Steffin Winston, one of Drew’s basketball teammates. At the school, they gave the supplies to members of the Mariposa basketball team to distribute to the community.

“We play them every single year,” Drew told the newspaper, “and it’s just hard when you know they’re not getting what they want” because of the fire.

Drew and Steffin both said they had seen TV reports of the Detwiler Fire, which burned more than 81,000 acres and destroyed 63 homes and one business before it was contained.

“It’s probably hard for them,” Drew said. “I wouldn’t want to be in that situation.”

The relief effort was much appreciated by the people in Mariposa.

“It’s about relationships and the relationships we’ve developed in the Southern League,” said Trace DeSandres, Mariposa’s athletic director. “To me, this is why we do this. It teaches them there are more things than just the competitive part.”

Drew’s parents said they couldn’t be more proud of their son and others in the Denair community who rallied for a worthy cause.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” said Kathy.

Also impressed is Drew’s high school principal, Kara Backman.

“Drew is a thoughtful, hard-working and polite young man,” she said. “He has the internal drive of a student athlete and is always there to lend a hand to a fellow peer.  He bleeds purple and we are proud to call him a Coyote!  I am so proud of him.”

Generosity Reflected in Community Response to Fire Relief Efforts

Denair Middle School student Logan Pierce unloads items from a pickup. Teacher Rosanne Cantwell looks on.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The Denair community as well as students at two campuses contributed in a big way to an impressive relief effort for people affected by the Butte fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

Water and non-perishable food. Clothing, blankets and bedding. Toiletries, toothpaste and diapers. Toys and games. Pet food. Even 60 to 70 100-pound bales of hay for hungry horses.

It will take a small convoy of trucks, trailers, SUVs and other vehicles to transport it all Friday afternoon to various places in Calaveras County.

Since it began Sept. 9, the Butte fire has burned more than 71,000 acres, destroyed 365 homes and 261 outbuildings, and damaged 26 structures. Friday morning, Cal Fire estimated containment at about 60%.

The idea to help fire victims began Monday among students and staff at Denair High School and Denair Middle School.

At the high school, student Destiny Silva organized the effort. At the middle school, campus supervisor Melissa Oei – who used to live in Valley Springs, not far from the fire — has friends who have lost their homes. Students in the leadership club found out and decided they wanted to pitch in.

By midday Friday, donations were overflowing from the middle school library into the hallway outside Principal Travis Manley’s office. At the high school, cartons of water, boxes of food, piles of blankets and other items were stacked high in a vacant room across from Principal Alecia Myers’ office. Continue reading “Generosity Reflected in Community Response to Fire Relief Efforts” »

Denair Students Collecting Donations to Benefit Sierra Fire Victims

FEMA News Photo / Andrea Booher

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Students and staff at two campuses in the Denair Unified School District are leading a community relief effort to help people affected by the Butte fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

Donations of clothing, toiletries, water, non-perishable food, blankets and other basic necessities will be accepted at the main offices at Denair High School and Denair Middle School between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Both campuses are located on Lester Road.

The Butte fire has burned more than 71,000 acres since it began last week. An estimated 135 homes and more than 80 other buildings have been destroyed, and thousands of people were told to leave their houses over the weekend.

The impetus to help fire victims began Monday among students and staff at both campuses. At the high school, student Destiny Silva organized the effort. At the middle school, campus supervisor Melissa Oei – who used to live in Valley Springs, not far from the fire — has friends who have lost their homes. Students in the leadership club found out and decided they wanted to pitch in.

Donations will be accepted through lunch time Friday.

High school Principal Alecia Myers said Silva and her family intend to take what is collected to one of the relief stations in Calaveras County. Middle school Principal Travis Manley said he will drive the goods from his campus to a friend from Calaveras County and she’ll take it to the Red Cross or Resource Connection in San Andreas.

Anyone with questions should call the high school office at (209) 632-9911 or middle school office at (209) 632-2510.