Supports for our Community
Samaritan’s Purse setting up camp set up at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park
By Jo Anne Malpass
Faith-based organizations arrived on the North Shuswap after the wildfire, donating their time and resources to help people in recovery efforts.
Christian Aid Ministry arrived in early September and helped numerous people remove and transfer fridges and freezers with spoiled food from their homes. John Dyck said about 30 Ministry volunteers from across Canada came to help and now their focus is on cleaning up the sites for people whose homes have burned. If they can help you, please call John at 250-517-0075.
By September 18, Samaritan’s Purse was setting up camp set up at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park, and by the 26th, it already had 50 work orders and had worked at four locations on the North Shuswap helping people who have lost their homes. They had already found personal belongings that people were looking for, including jewelry.
Samaritan’s Purse is an international disaster relief organization and one of the things they do is mobilize specialized staff and equipment as well as hundreds of volunteers when natural disasters occur on Canadian soil.
Tammy Suitor said they offer support to anyone who has lost a home, at no cost. In the aftermath of fires, one of the things they do is possession recovery through ash sifting. Although many may think that “you can’t find anything in there, and sometimes that is the case, but a lot of times we can look through the ashes and sometimes it's amazing what we've been able to find.” She said sometimes finding a special item or even making sure there is nothing to find, can help people through the grieving process.
She stressed that they have the protective equipment and knowledge to do this and encourages people to call them instead of searching themselves, because of the possibility of dangerous toxins.
For people who didn’t have insurance, they also have wrap around supports. They will help clean up the properties and even have an arborist who can deal with dangerous trees on those properties.
Although Samaritan’s Purse has a team of well-trained volunteers, it encourages local people who want to help their neighbours to contact them. They will train people, fit them with respirators and protection and send them out with a trained team leader.
Samaritan’s Purse will create work orders for you and assessors will come out to walk with you through your property and tell you what they can and can’t do. To set up an appointment for a walk through or to volunteer, call 1-833-738-7743 or visit them at the day use area at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park.
St. David’s Church Thrift Store in Celista has also extended its season to help people replace items they need. Everyone is welcome to shop on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with all the funds collected going back into the community.
The North Shuswap Hamper Society explained it supports Chase Food Bank and encourages anyone who is short of food to call Chase at (250) 682-6155.
Area Director Jay Simpson has been in contact with several groups and businesses offering a variety of supports. He encourages people to call him and he may be able to direct you to the right organization. 250-517-9578 or email jsimpson@csrd.bc.ca
