According to Canadian Red Cross officials, the influx of support that continues to be seen is an example of how those across the province and country come together and give back.
Communications Advisor for the Canadian Red Cross Jenn Houtby-Ferguson says, to date more than $9.2 million has been raised for wildfire relief, not including the financial matching from the provincial and federal governments. Houtby-Ferguson says all financial donations made to the 2024 Alberta Wildfire Appeal – will stay in the province.
“They will be utilized to help support folks who have been impacted in this wildfire situation, also will be used by communities who have been receiving evacuees. All of the funds that are generated here stay here in Alberta,” Houtby-Ferguson says.
Houtby-Ferguson says the Red Cross team is set up in communities across Alberta to support evacuees and hand out the $750 financial assistance announced last week for eligible homeowners, along with helping with accommodations for evacuees.
“We are also providing that emotional support to evacuees. You can appreciate this is a really distressing time for folks, lots of anxiety around what does reentry [look like], can I go home, what is that going to look like, I don’t know what to expect when I get there.”
“So that is something from a mental health point we try to be mindful of, be respectful of folks. We also are trying to facilitate those connections and make some referrals to other community organizations.”
She adds to help answer the question ‘How can I help?’ an easy way is to text AB fires to 45678 and that makes an automatic $10 donation to their phone bill.
Earlier this week it was announced that $2,919,474 was raised during the Alberta Day of Caring for Jasper on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, including the financial matching from the provincial and federal government.
