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Locals help Fort McMurray evacuees

Burns Lake resident Jacqui Narayan woke up last Friday thinking that she could do more to help.
Locals help Fort McMurray evacuees
Burns Lake resident Jacqui Narayan

Burns Lake resident Jacqui Narayan woke up last Friday thinking that she could do more to help the approximately 80,000 people that were recently forced out of their homes in Fort McMurray.

And she did. By using social media, Narayan was able to motivate the community to donate approximately 2000 items in less than 24 hours.

“I honestly don’t know what I expected when I decided to do this, but Burns Lake has amazed me,” she said. “For very, very little notice the response was overwhelming.”

Items included bottled water, new pillows and blankets, new and used clothing items, baby formula, diapers, wipes, personal hygiene products and pet food.

“We probably had 500 toothbrushes alone,” said Narayan. “We also were able to bring eight prom dresses with us that will be dry cleaned and provided to grads that need them.”

Narayan, her husband Naveen and their three kids - Shael, Rowen and Kian - then rented a U-Haul trailer and drove to Spruce Grove, near Edmonton, to take the items to evacuees. Their kids helped load and unload the trailer.

“They were so happy to be able to do this; they understand how important it is,” said Narayan.

Community members also provided the family with gas cards for the trip. Narayan said she was genuinely impressed by the generosity of people in Burns Lake.

“These people are so caring and honestly just want to help, it really was a humbling experience,” she said.

“I know some donations were very hard for people to do but they did it anyway; it was awesome to be a part of something like that.”

“For my family this will absolutely be a weekend we will never, ever forget,” she added.

Members from the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints in Spruce Grove are now distributing the items to families in need.

The Fort McMurray fire, which caught the city’s 90,000 residents by surprise last week, has made international headlines. It is estimated that 1600 structures have burned.

On Sunday May 8, Alberta premier Rachel Notley said the fire had burned about 161,000 hectares.

Although the B.C. government ruled out sending firefighters to Fort McMurray, several aid measures were announced last week, including a $300,000 donation from the province to the Canadian Red Cross to support relief efforts in Fort McMurray.

People who wish to contribute to the Canadian Red Cross campaign can do so by calling 1-800-418-1111, or donating online at http://ow.ly/YQT73000Q5s