By Jafet Serrato, Oct 24, 2019, for Action News
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - The North Valley Community Foundation has been working on choosing where vital grant money should go after the Camp Fire.
David Little is the executive vice president of the organization.
"We are both giving direct assistance to fire survivors who need it, through our partners on the ground but also giving to agencies who need help in the longer term," Little said.
The Butte County Sheriff's Office is one of those agencies requesting aid.
"Overwhelming sense of gratitude, I was so thankful for that," said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.
Sheriff Honea met with Little in January. He admitted that some of his deputies are struggling with the emotional impact of being on the front lines of the Camp Fire.
"I think first responders have a unique set of circumstances that nobody else has," Little said.
Rather than balling it all up, now they have an outlet. 
The foundation granted Butte County first responders with $1 million for specialized counseling and fitness programs.
"They recognize how important it is to keep our first responders both emotionally and mentally healthy so they can go out and do the job that they need to do to protect our community," Honea said.
Sheriff Honea says this aid was much needed, considering that deputies have to keep working despite the lingering trauma.
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