California Search and Rescue Raises $13,343 in One Night

The volunteers of Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue do the work most people hope never becomes necessary. They search for seniors who wander from care homes, missing accident victims, and hikers who never made it back to camp.

On December 31st, their community showed up to say thank you. The fundraising dinner and auction raised $13,343 in a single night, all going toward equipment, supplies, and training for the all-volunteer team.

Nearly 50 volunteers make up this search and rescue unit, and every single one donates their time. They train constantly for emergencies they hope will never happen, knowing that when someone goes missing, minutes can mean everything.

Event co-producer Jake Bernie from Total Bern Productions helped make the evening possible, presenting the check to Volunteer Commander Jared Chaney. Local businesses stepped up as sponsors, including Coldwell Banker, BFC Yours in Health, and Summit Technology Management.

Cultivo provided dinner for the crowd. The Lions Club ran a full bar, and former Sheriff Tom Allman took the mic as auctioneer. Dozens of businesses donated auction items that kept bidding paddles flying all night.

The Ripple Effect

This fundraiser does more than stock supply closets. It tells volunteers that their community sees them and values what they do.

Search and rescue teams across the country struggle with funding. Most operate as nonprofits, relying entirely on donations to keep functioning. When a team has proper equipment and training, response times improve and more lives get saved.

The Mendocino team's mission says it simply: "Providing a light of hope in the darkest of times. Every life matters, every rescue is important." That philosophy requires real resources, from GPS devices to rescue ropes to specialized training courses.

Community fundraisers like this one create a virtuous cycle. Volunteers feel supported and stay committed. Better funding means better training. Better training means more successful rescues. And successful rescues remind everyone why this work matters.

When someone's loved one goes missing, this team drops everything and responds. Now they'll do it with new gear and updated training, all thanks to neighbors who showed up on New Year's Eve to say their work matters.