MADRID, N.M. (KRQE) – After the devastating fires in Los Angeles earlier this year, a New Mexico man is now looking to give back to his Hollywood roots and help people get back on their feet.
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It’s been over a month since the wildfires plaguing Los Angeles were officially contained and the destruction is clear as day. “The news moves on and there’s so much chaos in the world and there’s so much happening but there’s a tremendous need,” said co-organizer, Vanessa Dingwell.
Dingwell alongside Charlie Overbey in Madrid, New Mexico, over 800 miles away from the devastation, wants to do their part. “We did it in 2020 through Navajo Nation Covid Relief and it was really wonderful and we do it all through Instagram,” said Overbey.
His way to help? Through one of the only ways, he knows how, hats. “They are signed hats and the signed hats people bid each day on whichever hat is being auctioned off,” said Dingwell.
Overbey has been making hats by hand since 1993, now also making specialty pieces for big names like Sheryl Crow, and Chris Robinson and designing hats for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw on the set of the TV series 1883. Now, replicas of those hats and more are up for grabs in hopes of raising money for families impacted by the fires. “A lot of the families that were grandfathered in especially over in the Altadena area a lot of those people aren’t going to be able to rebuild,” said Overbey.
Seeing the need, former customers are even stepping in to help sweeten the pot. “We’re actually going to be auctioning off a date with actor Colt Brown from the 1923 series,” said Overbey. “In times of need people really step up.”
So far, they’ve raised over $6,000. Auctions can be found on the Lone Hawk Hats Instagram and people can also donate to the cause directly.