WENATCHEE — Firefighters and the American Red Cross are overrun with food donations and are asking the community to donate food items to local food banks instead.

“We are overwhelmed by the kindness of the community,” said Trish Hogervorst, spokeswoman for the national fire management team called in to oversee the fires burning in Chelan County.

Hogervorst said firefighters are well fed by a catering company hired to prepare their meals and snacks.

The Apple Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross is now getting bulk donations of water and snacks from Costco, Fred Meyer and WalMart, so additional food donations are not needed.

But the organization is still accepting monetary donations to help pay for their efforts to help residents and firefighters working on dozens of fires in Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties.

“The response from the community so far has been incredible,” said Sandy Cain, emergency services director for the local Red Cross chapter. “People are so kind and generous. They want to help so much. This is such a fantastic community.”

No one is currently staying in a Red Cross shelter set up for fire evacuees, she said. Some evacuees have stopped by the office, though, to get information, snacks and some meals.

Michelle McNiel: 664-7152

mcniel@wenatcheeworld.com