Sandy Summers, fourth from left, presents $31,000 to Joyce Evans of the Rock Creek/Westbridge Fire Unmet Needs Committee. From left are Millie Jarrett, manager Best Western Sunrise Inn; Annette Star, Osoyoos Elks Club; Sannah Fletcher, In The Loop; Summers; Evans and Deb Millett, also of the Unmet Needs Committee. (Richard McGuire photo)
Members of the Osoyoos community last week turned over more than $31,000 raised here to help those in the Rock Creek-Westbridge area who were devastated by wildfires in August.
The presentation to the Rock Creek/Westbridge Fire Unmet Needs Committee was made last Wednesday in front of Osoyoos Town Hall.
Sandy Summers, a member of the Southern Okanagan Disaster Relief Fund, said the largest part of the contribution, about $21,000, was raised at a community barbecue in early September at the Best Western Sunrise Inn in Osoyoos.
Also on hand for the presentation were Annette Star, representing the Osoyoos Elks Club, a major contributor; Millie Jarrett, manager at Best Western; and Sannah Fletcher, who helped spread the word through her In The Loop Facebook page and was involved in fundraising.
Joyce Evans and Deb Millett attended to receive the cheque on behalf of the Unmet Needs Committee.
Evans, who became emotional as she accepted the cheque, said her committee has been trying to address needs from their communities that have not been met by insurance companies, provincial help, and various agencies.
“There are some things falling through the cracks and there are many people whose livelihoods have been impacted,” said Evans. “Their financial stability is not good. Those are the needs we are meeting.”
Some people, she said, did not have insurance and others found that their insurance wouldn’t cover what they thought it would.
There are also psychological needs to be met, so education sessions with crisis counsellors are helping those residents deal with the trauma.
In addition to 30 homes that were destroyed by the fire, a number of outbuildings also burned.
“Many people lost outbuildings that did not lose their homes,” said Evans. “We’re trying to help with that.”
Last week’s contribution will have a big impact, she said, adding that other groups such as Habitat for Humanity have also stepped forward.
Summers said the Elks matched donations raised by the barbecue. Other businesses, service groups and individuals also donated generously, she said.
Many members of the community dropped over donations to the Landsea office, which Summers made available as a drop-off point, and she and Fletcher set up an account at the Osoyoos Credit Union to receive monetary donations.
The public should know that there are still needs to be met, Summers said.
“Just because the fires are done and the snow is on the mountains, there are still people that are trying to rebuild their lives,” she said.
Although the Southern Okanagan Disaster Relief Fund will no longer be raising money for the Rock Creek/Westbridge fire victims, people are still encouraged to contribute through the Rock Creek/Westbridge Fire Unmet Needs Committee.
The committee can be contacted through Vicki Gee at 250-446-2042 or by email at [email protected].
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
