Click HERE to donate directly to the Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief Fund

News Channel Nebraska is joining the effort to support the people affected by this month’s devastating wildfires.

NCN has partnered with Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief to launch Nebraska Supports Nebraska for Wildfire Relief. The fundraising effort aims to provide financial support for the people directly impacted by the fires that have spread across the state.

Sara Cover of Oshkosh helped start the initiative to make sure wildfire victims aren’t left on their own.

“It’s truly just ranchers helping ranchers and people in our community," Cover said. "It just feels so right and so pure that it’s going to be a really good turnaround and best use of money possible.”

A friend approached Cover on Saturday morning about starting a nonprofit to support fire victims. The group created a Facebook page that swelled to more than 11,000 followers in three days. They were granted 501c3 nonprofit status on Monday.

“Truly, it was just a grassroots effort of trying to gather some money up so that we could help our neighbors and our friends’ expenses, or buy hay for their cows because currently all their stockyards are burned up and their summer grass," Cover said. "So, some of these guys are just at a loss of what to feed their cows, maybe even tomorrow.”

The four major wildfires have burned more than 750,000 total acres. The Morrill Fire, which threatened Cover’s community of Oshkosh, is the largest wildfire in state history.

News Channel Nebraska journalists have been on scene covering the breaking news since the fires sparked. Casey Wonnenberg was at the Anderson Bridge Fire in Cherry County.

“I was able to talk to the guy who witnessed the fire when it first started," Wonnenberg said. "Extremely high winds on Thursday as everyone knows, and it knocked over a power pole there south of Kilgore. He showed me the power pole that had fallen down. It was on top of a hill looking into a canyon and from that location, as far as you could see, was just charred trees.”

Hunter Arterburn was on the scene in Keith County as the Morrill Fire forced evacuations.

“I think that’s just the Western Nebraska way is that we get behind each other," Arterburn said. "Whether you’re from Oshkosh, Ogallala, from the small towns like Lisco and Broadwater to Bridgeport, we’re all in this thing together.”

“It was unbelievable and just an honor that I got a chance to even tell the story — to be alongside these brave men and women was just unbelievable,” Arterburn said.

State Sen. Paul Strommen represents District 47 in the legislature, which covers the areas affected by the Morrill Fire.

“This effort give people across the state a trusted way to hep ranching families and communities recover," Strommen said. "Every contribution goes directly toward relief efforts helping with fencing, feed, rebuilding after these fires. Nebraska’s always been strongest when we stand together and right now is another opportunity to show that Nebraska truly supports Nebraska.”

“This is probably the most devastating damage I’ve ever seen or experienced," Cover said. "I think what I’ve learned the most is just how strong Mother Nature is, but also how much good there is in the world.”

All money will go to Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief. The nonprofit will have a designated person from each affected community be in charge of disbursing the money in that area. People can apply for help or neighbors can nominate people to receive the money.

It’s grassroots. It’s rancher helping rancher. It’s authentically Nebraskan. We ask you to help the Nebraska Supports Nebraska for Wildfire Relief effort.