THUNDER BAY -- Necessities are so scarce in Fort McMurray, Alta. that some evacuees have taken to sharing toothbrushes.
At least that’s the word Bella Piers and her husband have been hearing from friends and former co-workers trying to survive the aftermath of wildfires that destroyed 2,500 buildings and forced more than 80,000 people from their homes.
More than a week later, they still haven’t been able to go back.
In response the Piers family – with help from dozens of others on the ground in Thunder Bay – helped form Fort Mac Strong, a Facebook group dedicated to collecting and shipping supplies to those stranded outside the Alberta oil capital, unable to return to their homes.
That’s assuming they even have homes to which they can return.
On Friday Piers helped load the last of the supplies into the trailer of a west-bound Manitoulin Transport truck.
Despite news stories suggesting relief agencies were struggling to figure out what to do with an overwhelming number of donations pouring into the region, Peris said there is still plenty of need.
Diapers, food, water and personal hygiene products are still in heavy demand, she said.
“Edmonton Relief is still posting stuff on their site that they need – toiletries and that kind of stuff,” Piers said.
The donations, which have been going out on separate trucks all week, will also be used to help underserviced areas that fall outside the Edmonton Relief catchment area.
“The biggest need is food. There’s a hotel out there with a maximum occupancy of 750 and its housing 2,000 right now. They’re rationing food. Water and food are the essentials that they need.”
The first couple of loads were sent free of charge, while the latest is going out at a discounted rate and paid with funds raised through a Go Fund Me campaign.
For now the Fort Mac Strong Facebook page has been closed and Peris said she’s encouraging those who want to donate to give to the evacuee pit stop set up adjacent to The Whole Nine Yards on Fort William Road.
It’s part of a network of locations across the country designed to provide on-the-go provisions and assistance to evacuees returning to their homes throughout the rest of Canada.
“I know there have been a couple of families through there,” Piers said.
Correction: This updated version corrects the spelling of Bella Piers' name.
