Volunteers strive to make Clearlake shelter feel like home

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. (KGO) -- Hundreds of people affected by the devastating Valley Fire are still staying in shelters. The massive blaze has scorched 73,700 acres and is 35 percent contained. With so many homes lost in the Valley Fire, many volunteers are doing what they can to give fire evacuees the comforts of home.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/donations-how-to-help-valley-fire-victims/982772/" TARGET="" REL=""]DONATIONS: How to help victims of the Valley Fire where you live[/url][/b][br /][br /]The Moose Lodge in Clearlake Oaks is a tent city. Nearly everyone there has lost their home or had to leave it.[br /][br /]"I just see it as a fresh start," said Cliff Peterson, who lost his rental home in Middletown.[br /][br /]Peterson says most of the clothing he's wearing was donated.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/7-year-old-middletown-fire-evacuee-lifts-spirits-of-red-cross-shelter/988306/" TARGET="" REL=""]VIDEO: 7-year-old Middletown fire evacuee lifts spirits of Calistoga Red Cross shelter[/url][/b][br /][post ID="988306" /][br /][br /]There are so many donations that they've overflowed to a back parking lot.[br /][br /]Well-known TV Chef Guy Fieri donated food for 400 people.[br /][Ads /][br /]"We've got salads and pastas and it's just amazing his generosity and we thank him very much for that," said Valley Fire volunteer Sandra Redshaw.[br /][br /][twitter ID="644363942232391680" /][br /]In addition to clothing and food donations, there are a number of volunteers including nurses, a chiropractor, and even an acupuncturist.[br /][br /]"This right now, it's just putting smiles on my face and starting to relax me a little bit," said evacuee Matthew Terrel.[br /][br /][twitter ID="644364848390799360" /][br /]Some, like Hidden Valley Lake resident Lynn Green, went there for a warm meal and company.[br /][br /]"I feel really fortunate," she said. "But when I left I was ready to lose my home because I could sense the voraciousness of the fire."[br /][br /]With the Middletown Post Office closed, many people picked up their mail in Clearlake on Wednesday.[br /][br /]"Hopefully we'll be back soon as soon as they restore power and the roads are open," said Middletown Postmaster Robert Cole.[br /][br /][twitter ID="644364533016883200" /][br /]In the meantime, postal workers will bring the mail to shelters like the Moose Lodge on Friday.[br /][br /]"We all band together for anything that happens especially something like this," said Clearlake Postmaster Miguel Chavez.[br /][br /]It's all about making those possibly now without a home feel at home and forget their troubles, even if it's just for a few moments.[br /][br /]Those collecting donations for evacuees at Moose Lodge are posting on their Facebook page. [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/MooseLodge2284WomenOfTheMoose1691" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] to see what they need.[br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/tag/valley-fire/" TARGET="" REL=""]Click here[/url] for full coverage on the Valley Fire.[/b][br /][br /][b]If you see news where you live, tag your photos and videos on [url HREF="https://twitter.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Twitter[/url], [url HREF="https://instagram.com/explore/tags/abc7now/" TARGET="" REL=""]Instagram[/url], or [url HREF="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/abc7now" TARGET="" REL=""]Facebook[/url] with #abc7now.[/b][br /][br /][br /][br /][br /][b][url HREF="http://abc7news.com/news/photos-abc7-news-at-the-valley-fire/984430/" TARGET="" REL=""]PHOTOS: ABC7 News at the Valley Fire[/url][/b][br /][post ID="984430" /]]Facebook[/url] with #abc7now.[/b][br /]