For many of us, life has returned pretty much to normal after the Gold King Mine spill at the beginning of August. But for those who took a financial hit, recovery is still underway.

The Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado is administering the Community Emergency Relief Fund in collaboration with the Durango Business Improvement District with the aim of helping those harmed by the spill. The foundation has received a $5,000 matching grant from the Trinchera Blanca Foundation. The Bootleggers Society, the charitable arm of local craft breweries, raised $4,000 toward the match with the sales of Heavy Metal EPA beer, so there’s only $1,000 to go.

So far, 71 people have received assistance with basics such as rent, gas and food to the tune of $36,750.

“We received about $20,000 in donations but paid out almost twice that,” said Briggen Wrinkle, executive director of the foundation, “hence our need to get the matching grant.”

Visit www.swcommunityfoundation.org or call 375-5807 to donate.

Herald Staff