Brenda Cappel lived on Willowview Court in Santa Rosa for 10 years until last October’s firestorms. She’s been in a FEMA trailer since the day after Thanksgiving.

“I loved my home; it was my Xanadu,” Cappel said.  “I had a really hard time getting myself out of my house, because you know in the back of your mind, if you have to leave like that, you’re not coming back.”

Evacuating in the middle of the night, spending eight hours listening to explosions, and losing almost everything she owned has been traumatic.

“It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through,” says Cappel. “I was diagnosed with breast cancer and went through chemo and all that and this was, for me, at least 100 times worse emotionally. I’m still messed up. I still miss my house every day.”

FEMA expects to place as many as 100 more trailers at the Sonoma Fairgrounds RV Park. Each trailer contains all of the necessities: beds, stove, refrigerator, heater, even a kitchen table, but everything is tiny.

“It’s a very different way of living,” says Kathy Zamastil, one of four camp hosts at the Sonoma Fairgrounds RV Park. “I feel bad for them, going from a big house to that. Or even an apartment. But all in all I think they’re handling it pretty well.”

Residents have 18 months from the time of the fire to find a new place to live, and they must show that they are actively looking. FEMA representatives come every 30 days to help.

Cappel, who drives a forklift for Manzana Products of Graton, is having trouble finding a place for herself, her dog and cat. “It’s tough out there. It’s scary to look at paying that much rent, double what I paid before. It’s a shell shock. But I’m looking.”

In the meanwhile, Cappel is grateful to have a roof over her head and for the support she’s received from her union, friends and strangers. The Sonoma County community has come through for Cappel and other fire loss families, distributing gift cards, clothes, funds, even Christmas dinner. Santa Rosa-based culinary apprentice program, Worth Our Weight delivered holiday meals to a dozen families living at the RV Park on Christmas morning. Former LAPD commander John Mutz was one of many volunteers who helped to prepare, transport and distribute the meals.

“Worth Our Weight chef Evelyn Cheatham sent me over to the FEMA trailers to see how many families would like a Christmas dinner delivered,” said Mutz, a candidate for Sonoma County Sheriff. “Worth Our Weight was already inundated with requests from shelters and families impacted by the fires. Evelyn and her team were able to accommodate them, preparing 750 meals in total.”

Worth Our Weight runs a culinary apprentice program for at-risk young adults aged 16 to 24. “This is the 27th year we’ve done the Christmas meals,” said Executive Director and Chef Evelyn Cheatham. “I try to make the portions generous, so there is plenty, with enough for leftovers. Many of our apprentice chefs come from poverty, so being able to give back to the community is huge for them.”

The way things are going, Worth Our Weight might have to deliver even more meals to the Sonoma Fairgrounds RV Park next Christmas.