By Geoff Smith

Where to donate locally to help Fort McMurray evacuees

May 6, 2016 | 12:41 PM

The devastation affecting the northern Alberta boomtown of Fort McMurray is only beginning to become known, but efforts are underway in northwestern Saskatchewan to help.

The Saskatchewan stations of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group are banding together for “Fort Mac Monday,” May 9. Between 6 and 10 a.m. people can deliver cash donations to the North Battleford offices of CJNB, Q98, the Rock, and battlefordsNOW at 1711, 100 Street or at 225, Centre Street in Meadow Lake, home of CJNS, Q98 and meadowlakeNOW.

“We are thinking of the families, and the people, tens of thousands of people that have been evacuated from that community, and now they have nothing to go back to,” program director, Nic Fransoo, said. “So we want to give them something. Because right now they have nothing.”

The money will be provided to the Canadian Red Cross. Matching funds from the provincial and federal governments will effectively triple the amount raised.

“Money is actually used by the Red Cross to provide the relief that is actually needed,” Fransoo said. “A lot of people might think that they have clothing, that they have items that these families may need, and that’s true. But the Red Cross knows the actual need. They’re there on the ground with these people and will disperse the money into the items and the aid that is actually needed to help them right now.”

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Fransoo said so many people in the Battlefords, Meadow Lake, and surrounding areas have been shocked by the news of the Alberta wildfires and want to help, as they have done so many times before. The Fort McMurray disaster in particular touches a lot of people who have friends or family who took jobs in the oilsands, or have themselves travelled to the northern Alberta community for a variety of reasons.

The entire population of Fort McMurray was forced to leave the area in a hurry Tuesday when a wildfire suddenly moved into the city. More than 80,000 people were still out of their homes Friday, with no indication of when they might be able to return. Some entire neighbourhoods were destroyed by the intense flames.

gsmith@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @smithco