THUNDER BAY -- Jenny Veal thought she and her friend Amanda Mihalus might inspire a few friends and family to donate toiletries and other necessities like diapers and baby wipes to victims of this week’s devastating fires in Fort McMurray, Alta.
The duo was caught off guard when their self-titled #FortMacStrong movement went viral.
As of Thursday, the two friends think they might have a tractor-trailer load of goods to send out west.
Veal, who has plenty of friends in family in the Northern Alberta oil capital, said she couldn’t believe the outpouring of support.
“We were just trying to get some essential need items up to friends of ours who live in Fort McMurray. It was a basic Facebook event that were sending out to our immediate friends. It got shared and shared and shared and now it’s kind of exploded into a really big flash drive.”
The fires forced the mandatory evacuation of all 80,000 Fort McMurray residents, flames incinerating entire neighbourhoods and threatening the entire city. The province declared a state of emergency, as firefighters fought day and night to quell the blaze. The Bank of Montreal estimates the damage could amount to $9 billion in losses.
Locally, Veal and Mihalus checked to see what displaced residents needed, to ensure they only collected goods that would actually prove useful.
“I think it’s important to realize that this is affecting us as a country. It’s something that could possibly happen here, so we can relate to that,” Mihalus said.
“It’s devastating and their lives as they knew it are gone. So if we can just offer the simplest thing, like a clean pair of socks or a clean pair of underwear or a toothbrush – whatever is going to bring a little bit of joy to their day is what we want to do.”
While donations have already started pouring in, a more concentrated effort is planned for Saturday and Sunday.
Friends have opened up their home and shop, at 822 Hilldale Road, where they will be receiving, sorting and packaging goods from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Collections will also be accepted at a variety of spots around Thunder Bay including Rooster’s Bistro and The Bar on Red River Road (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days) and Wal-Mart locations on Arthur Street and Dawson Road (10 a.m. to 1 p.m on Saturday).
“Anyone who can get out (to the house), come out there. Anyone else, use our drop-off locations.”
Transportation off the good to Alberta has been donated by AMJ Van Lines.
