Guelph is responding to the Fort McMurray fire disaster. A number of fundraising events are in progress or planned.
Booster Juice Pergola Commons is holding its Fort McMurray Fundraiser! on Saturday, enlisting Paw Patrol rescue pups in the effort. Among the pups that will be in attendance this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be Ryder, Marshall, Rubble, Chase and Skye. The characters will be on hand throughout the event for pictures and autographs.
Donations will be collected, and a portion of juice sales from the event will go to the Canadian Red Cross relief effort to help those affected by the wildfire.
Justin Hendrikx owns the Booster Juice location. Like so many other Canadians, he has friends who moved to Fort McMurray.
“From the videos we’ve seen it looks terrible,” said Hendrikx. “It’s not very often that Canada goes through something this horrible. Everyone knows someone from Fort McMurray. Many have family members who have moved out there to work. It hits home for everybody. If ever there was an urgent crisis in Canada, this is it.”
On Wednesday, May 18th, Zumba instructors Amanda Payne and Sarah Schleen will host Zumba Fundraiser for Fort McMurray at the Centre Wellington Sportsplex. Zumba is a high-energy dance workout. It begins at 6 p.m., and includes a barbecue.
There will be 45 minutes of Zumba fun, with a laser light show in the dark, and a raffle table. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids, with all proceeds going to the relief effort. All are welcome.
The Freshco grocery store on Speedvale Avenue is now collecting $2 donations, and those donations appear to be pouring in. Parent company Sobeys will match all donations, up to $100,000. According to comments on social media many people have donated much more than $2, and several local people have said they have family and friends in Fort McMurray.
Pet Valu stores in Guelph are also collecting donations to help the people of the northern Alberta community.
Over 80,000 residents of Fort McMurray and surrounding communities were evacuated as wildfires swept into the city in recent days. About 1,600 structures were burned to the ground, and it is estimated that the natural disaster will cost insurers upwards of $9 billion. There are more than 500 firefighters on the ground. Two people died in a car crash during the evacuation.
Over $44 million has so far been donated to Canadian Red Cross.
A Go Fund Me crowdfunding campaign has also been launched in Guelph. Fort McMurray Wildfire Relief is at www.gofundme.com/22m9mcs. The drive hopes to raise $10,000 for the Red Cross.
On Saturday, copies of the locally produced CD Songs of the Future, from the Tomorrow Collective, were sold at a Tannis Slimmon and Annie Sumi concert at Heritage Hall, raising $200 for the wildfire relief effort. All proceeds from the sale of the $8.88 CD will go to the Red Cross. Learn about the music at www.barcodefreemusic.com/projects/songs-of-the-future.
