McKenzie Rafting – Have Lots of Fun! Do Lots of Good!
A Helfrich Outfitter is Helping Our River Community Heal, Recover and Rebuild
The Coronavirus made for a challenging river season for not only our rafting business but for all of the businesses along the McKenzie River.
Making it worse, the Holiday Farm Fire started on Labor Day and ravaged much of our beautiful river valley. Our season came to an immediate and dramatic close.
Far worse than what we lost as a business is what the residents lost … everything. They had very little time to evacuate their homes, some leaving with only the clothes on their backs. The high winds fueled the flames that raced through the valley, traveling 20 miles in just 15 hours, ultimately burning 174,000 acres, consuming 431 residences and destroying the community of Blue River.
My husband and I hosted a displaced family in our home for about a week and donated to and helped aid organizations. We shared the story of the Holiday Farm Fire with our guests and encouraged them to donate to those that were housing, feeding and supplying essential goods and services to the hundreds of displaced residents. Many did.
We want to continue to help our river community and the people who want to return to it by helping the organizations that continue to help them.
We are donating a portion of all 2021 McKenzie rafting receipts to McKenzie Community Development Corporation and McKenzie Locals Helping Locals, two non-profits helping our river community recover and rebuild.
So, by joining us on the river this season, you will be helping this wonderful river community heal, recover and rebuild. Come join us! Have lots of fun! Do lots of good!
Jonnie Helfrich
A Helfrich Outfitter
