The very same community where our company was founded is experiencing
one of its worst disasters. This year, Santa Cruz County is
experiencing its worst fire season in recorded history, with the CZU
Lightening Complex Fire burning over 85,000 acres - and it is still
threatening more homes and structures. Many of us know people who have
had to evacuate, and some of us know people who have unfortunately lost
their homes. The devastating reality is that most California residents
know someone who has evacuated their home at some point in the last
decade. Our small team at Vanly know multiple families who have lost
their homes due to fires within the last few years.
What’s worse is that the size of the CZU Complex Fire pales in
comparison to the size of other fires burning across the state,
including the LNU and SCU Complex fires, the Elkhorn fire, the Creek
fire and many others. Nearly 3 million acres have already burned, and
none of the fires have yet been contained. Thousands of people are
without a place to stay while they nervously anticipate the news of
their house possibly being destroyed by fires that are completely out of
control. Hopefully, we can all empathize with the harsh reality that
thousands of families are currently enduring. So what can we do to help?
With Vanly, we’ve built a platform that allows vanlifers and RV
travelers to find safe, overnight parking in private driveways or
properties in exchange for a payment to the host. We give hosts the
freedom to charge whatever they deem fair, and overnight parking guests
are required to adhere to the rules listed by the host. Our initial goal
has been to enable safer, easier travel for those in the #vanlife
and RV communities, while providing the opportunity for hosts to make
passive income - and develop meaningful connections along the way.
However, amidst this unprecedented crisis, we have decided to open
our platform to hosts that want to provide their driveway or property
space to fire victims and evacuees, with the ability to list their
property for free or for a discounted rate for those
affected by the fires. Whether they need a place for their car, RV or
trailer, evacuees can use Vanly to find nearby driveways or properties
where they can safely park. If you would like to help out, simply list
your property. When selecting the price for your listing, you will be
asked whether you'd like to make accomodations for evacuees. The process
is free, and Vanly will not be charging any fees. Our hope is to provide a resource to connect those in need to people willing to help.
Please feel free to reach out to me directly at lane@vanly.app or our team with any questions, feedback, or concerns.
Stay strong, stay safe and take care of each other.