THUNDER BAY -- Cash is flowing steadily to the special committee formed to raise $5 million for victims of the May 28th flood, yet there is still a significant shortfall as the deadline continues to draw closer.
Wayne Fletcher, chair of the Thunder Bay Disaster Relief Committee, said the group has raised about $1.2 million so far, and funds continue to come in as various people and organizations offer support during the holiday season.
While the shortfall is still significant, Fletcher said the committee is happy with what has been coming in.
“December is going to be one of the most difficult months because this is a key month for so many charities,” he said. “There’s the Salvation Army, the United Way and the Christmas hampers so it is going to be a tough time for everybody. It illustrates the need that are in the community.
"Everyone is doing the best they can and the people who can dig deep into those pockets are doing so the best they can.”
He added they are still working through all the claims that have been submitted and while they aren’t planning any events some other groups are in January.
Even though the Jan. 31 deadline is drawing closer, Fletcher said they are still working and hope to have a good idea the kind of figure to cover the costs of helping people who are eligible.
Fletcher's praise for generous residents came on a day when the disaster relief committee accepted a $5,000 helping hand from the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition.
Officials with the CLE presented the disaster relief committee with the cheque on Monday.
CLE President Reta Stoger said the decision to help the disaster victims came easily because they lost so much. So many people lost all they had and the committee felt it was the right thing to do to help them out.
“We were just hearing so much about how people were just in need,” she said.
“This is just to help the families and hopefully they can get something out of it before Christmas. We understand the government will double it so the relief fund will get $15,000 and that should help some families get at least two or three furnaces.”
