A Penticton man害羞草研究所檚 grassroots efforts to provide aid for those displaced by the of wildfires ravaging the province is gaining momentum, with a truckload of supplies already sent out.
The 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶟 on Facebook was set up by Allan Love in Penticton, but it害羞草研究所檚 quickly-growing member base is spread across B.C., all looking to provide some help to by the more than 220 wildfires in the province.
Quickly reaching 100 members just hours after the group害羞草研究所檚 formation on Saturday, there are now 550 members offering a hand in various ways.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 an old forestry firefighter, myself, so I know the hardships that the people will be going through, as I害羞草研究所檝e been on the fighting end of it,害羞草研究所� Love said. 害羞草研究所淚 know how much it could actually suck. I just want to give anyone who needs help as much help as I can possibly give them whether it害羞草研究所檚 through myself or through proxy.害羞草研究所�
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If Love isn害羞草研究所檛 able to provide the help that an evacuee is needing, he said hopefully one of the 550 害羞草研究所� and growing 害羞草研究所� members of his group will be able to.
Love said clothing, food and shelter make up the bulk of what the group is offering, with numerous members offering to make room in their homes for the evacuees.
害羞草研究所淚, myself, am even willing to put up a couple of people inside my house, I can put up a couple more people inside my camper, and I害羞草研究所榲e got lots of room for RVs or tents for camping,害羞草研究所� Love said. 害羞草研究所淚 can help out even some of them, myself, with food and whatnot, too.害羞草研究所�
Love has set his garage up at 101 Nelson Street as an ad hoc donation centre, clearing space to hold items earmarked for evacuees, with the closest donation centres set up in the Lower Mainland and in Kamloops.
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害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e even got three truckloads coming down later just from Kelowna area,害羞草研究所� Love said, adding that he害羞草研究所檚 been in touch with groups like the Salvation Army.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 working with different organizations to get transport from my place up to the Kamloops centres, to the (Emergency Social Services) there, and then it害羞草研究所檒l get distributed from there to Prince George, or wherever else is requiring whatever.害羞草研究所�
About a pickup load has already been sent out from Love害羞草研究所檚 place in Penticton up to Kamloops, which he said is a good start so far.
害羞草研究所淐onsidering I害羞草研究所檝e only actually opened up my garage since (Monday),害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淏asic things that we害羞草研究所檙e asking for is personal hygiene products right now, a lot of that stuff is always the most overlooked. Of course, water害羞草研究所檚 always great to have, too, but other groups that are from Alberta, they害羞草研究所檙e sending mass amounts of fluids.害羞草研究所�
Love said he害羞草研究所檚 also seeing requests for clothing, with many evacuated in early days having cycled through all of their clean clothes. Members in the group span across the province, with Facebook profiles showing up from the coast, up to Lillooet and as far out as Calgary.
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That, Love said, will help to spread group害羞草研究所檚 ability to provide help wherever it害羞草研究所檚 needed, especially with most of the fires in the Cariboo region 害羞草研究所� far away from Love害羞草研究所檚 home in Penticton. The group has also managed to help house several people, pointing to a woman named Mia, who came to the area with her boyfriend and their baby.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e set up completely with everything that they need in Kamloops, so I害羞草研究所檓 quite thrilled with that,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that people have found housing through the group up and down the Okanagan Valley.
But the giving spirit hasn害羞草研究所檛 ended with those with space to spare 害羞草研究所� Love pointed to one man who offered to help out however he can, despite himself being an evacuee.
Love said he害羞草研究所檚 offered a helping hand to others in need before, but never anything on this scale.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 winging it, doing what I can,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t sucks to be down, so I may as well do what I can to make their life better and easier.害羞草研究所�
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