Kamloops businesses collecting donations for Fort McMurray evacuees

KAMLOOPS – As evacuees of Fort McMurray look for safe harbour, Kamloops residents and businesses are collecting donations for the thousands of displaced Albertans.

Safeway grocery stores, including both in Kamloops, are matching donations to Fort McMurray, while the Superstore in Sahali and Get Polished Nails downtown are collecting donations. Additionally, the Kamloops Wholesale Furniture Brokers will be donating a mattress to the Canadian Red Cross for ever mattress sold.

Car dealerships are also gathering supplies, including Kamloops Ford Lincoln which will have a truck in its showroom to collect food, pet food and other goods for people, according to a media release.

The B.C. Liquor Stores are collecting money for the Canadian Red Cross.

While some are preparing goods to send to Alberta, others are getting ready for an influx of evacuees to pass through or arrive in Kamloops.

The Facebook group BC Relocation Support for Fort McMurray is using social media to coordinate efforts province wide, and has called Kamloops a pitstop for those travelling to the lower mainland or Vancouver Island, which spawned the creation of a Facebook page called Kamloops Pit Stop for Ft. McMurray Evacuee.

The group is offering evacuees everything from dog food to accommodation.

Domino’s Pizza is also advertising free pizza to anyone travelling from the evacuated area.

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