Residents can turn a dollar into three this weekend at stores across the city this weekend.
Loonies will be collected from Friday to Sunday at nearly a dozen businesses in an effort to bulk up the Thunder Bay and Area Disaster Relief Fund, of which more than $4 million is still needed. Committee chair Wayne Fletcher said Loonie Days is all about reminding people that the effects of the May 28 flood are still being felt by the 1,000 families hit by it.
“This has not gone away. Everything looks OK but those people who were devastated by the flood are devastated by the flood and they’re still trying to get their lives together,” Fletcher said Thursday.
Dino Minnella is co-owner of Chatters Salon and Beauty Supplies. He said the local shop is also having a 20 per cent off sale to bring customers in and hopefully raise more money.
“We thought it would be a great attraction and during that time be a great way to collect money for the city’s disaster relief fund,” he said.
Wal-Mart Super Centre manager Paul Anthraper said his company has been involved in the flood relief effort since day one. With the store being close to impacted areas, Anthraper said both employees and customers need help.
“We’d like to help organizations such as these do more for the community,” he said. “When it happens we all come together as one.”
Volunteers will be at the store’s entrances collecting whatever they can. Wal-Mart will also match up to $2,000 in donations.
Fletcher said there is no goal in mind for the event.
“We just hope to raise as much as we can,” he said.
Donations can be made at the following locations:
- All Metro Grocery Stores
- Both Quality Market Grocery Stores
- Westfort Foods
- Skaf’s Just Basics
- George’s Market
- Roots Canada
- Chatters Salon and Beauty Supplies
- Both Hallmark Stores
- Superstore
- Walmart
- Old Navy
