The Sikh community of Metro Vancouver area plans on Monday to send a tractor-trailer load full of donations to Fort McMurray, Alta., to help victims of the massive wildfire.
Avtar Gill, who is coordinating the donation drive, said the region’s Sikh temples and schools have been busy accepting donations to help those who have lost their homes and personal items due to the wildfire.
The truck will take the items to Edmonton where the goods will then get delivered to those who are displaced from the massive fire that swept through the region last week. The donation drive has been widely broadcast on the ethnic radio stations, and people have come through, said Gill.
“This has been a collective effort from the Sikh community,” he said of the campaign. “This effort is entirely being done based on their need,” he said of the fire victims, many who have yet to find out if their homes are still standing.
Gill, like others in the Sikh community, said it was shocking to watch the footage of the fire destroying many parts of the northern Alberta town.
“You can’t believe an entire town goes up like that,” he said. “We said something needs to be done to help them.”
The truck leaves the Fruitcana warehouse in Surrey Monday afternoon.
Another trailer of donations for the fire victims will be sent off as well. This Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., canned items, diapers pillows, toiletries and other non-perishable food is being collected. Those items will be collected at a donation booth set up at 12600 66 Ave. in Surrey at the Tamanawis school grounds.