One month after the deadliest fire in California's history ripped through the town of Paradise, northern Nevadans are still helping the victims. Great Basin Brewing Company is donating part of its beer profits, all day Friday. It is calling it "Pints for Paradise".
"It's pretty darn easy," Tom Young, Brewmaster of Great Basin Brewing Company said. "Just buy beer and you're making a donation."
20 percent of each beer sale is going to Camp Fire victims. Young hopes to raise between $2,000 and $3,000 during the one-day event.
"Sierra Nevada is taking a big initiative and we're joining in on their efforts to have the brewers support some people who are really in need," Young said. "When a whole town burns down, that's pretty serious."
86 people died in the Camp Fire, which also destroyed 18,793 buildings. That includes 13,972 homes and 528 businesses.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is located in Chico and it is raising money through its "Resilience Butte County Proud IPA", asking other brewers to make the same brew. Young says he does not have the room to make it but says he will sell it in his restaurants. Other local breweries are doing similar fundraising, including IMBIB Custom Brews, Brasserie St. James, Pigeon Head Brewery, 10 Torr Distilling and Brewing, and The Fox Brewhouse in Carson City.
"I think brewers can come together as a community and help us make this world a better place, one pint at a time," Young said.
Danielle Hanna is a server and bartender at Great Basin Brewing Company in Reno. She says helping our neighbors in California is one of the company's core values.
"I was really excited to come to work today and sell beer and talk to customers about what we're doing today," Hanna said.
Young says one of Great Basin's former managers had previously moved to Paradise, and lost his house in the fire. Other victims have moved to Reno, and some are customers at the restaurant.
"They're our neighbors," Hanna said. "They're right next door. So yeah, I think it's great that we're reaching out to people in need."
Debbie Sjaarda lives in Truckee and planned on coming into Great Basin this weekend. When she heard about the fundraiser, she decided to have lunch there on Friday instead.
"I've got acquaintances who lived in Paradise," Sjaarda said. "They lost everything, so it's great that all the breweries and any of the businesses in town and up on the hill, you know, we take care of our own."
Young attended another fundraising event at Lassen Ale Works in Susanville, this week, raising about $12,000. He hopes the combined effort of Reno's breweries will raise at least $10,000 more.
