UPDATE June 30:
ADRA Canada's Warehouse in Edmonton
ADRA Canada has partnered with the Province of Alberta and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to open the Alberta Wildfire Donation Centre.
The Province of Alberta has entrusted ADRA Canada with the management of all non-cash donations for the Fort McMurray wildfire response. We have hired new staff for the warehouse located in Edmonton.
Volunteers are also needed to help with the donations processing. Help us to meet the ongoing needs of those who have been affected by this disaster. If you would like more information or are interested in volunteering please click http://www.adra.ca/YMMFire?mc_cid=0f8cb2058d&mc_eid=a6cfa54ef8.
UPDATE June 28:
Adventist Review Online | Canada Puts ADRA in Charge of Relief Efforts After Fort McMurray Fire - http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story4112-canada-puts-adra-in-charge-of-relief-efforts-after-fort-mcmurray-fire?utm_source=GleanerWeekly&utm_campaign=f4eb674f76-June_23_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8f9cae1547-f4eb674f76-68334825
UPDATE June 23:
UPDATE June 21:
ADRA Canada was given an opportunity to be on the Edmonton CBC news on the day that they formally inaugurated the Edmonton Warehouse Project. Here is the link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/cbc-edmonton-news-at-6-june-14-2016-1.3635633. After you get through the ads you can skip ahead to the story which starts at about minute 7:00. You may scroll to minute 8:15 to see the interview.
UPDATE June 16: Link to sign up for volunteering at the ADRA warehouse in Edmonton - http://bttr.im/cmdah
Links that contain news about the ADRA Canada relief efforts in Edmonton:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLvrD8tiHIX1Jh3uWu1zWpfYEPX75Wwwnr&v=T3jPzThKLIQ
http://www.630ched.com/2016/06/14/province-partners-to-coordinate-donations-for-fort-mcmurray/
http://www.cknw.com/syn/110/109696/province-partners-to-coordinate-donations-for-fort-mcmurray
UPDATE May 30: ADRA Canada Takes On Donations Management for Fort McMurray: ADRA Canada has been working tirelessly on our response to the Fort McMurray fires. Since evacuees began to arrive in Edmonton we have been working on the ground through local churches and in partnership with the Alberta Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to provide much needed items. Many people left their homes with nothing and we were able to provide essentials, such as hygiene kits, clothing, and other essential items. ADRA Canada has been working closely with other organizations, such as GlobalMedic, and evacuation centres to insure that the needs of the displaced were met. We are continuing to help even as re-entry into Fort McMurray has begun. Currently we have a team of pastors in Fort McMurray who have training in crisis management. These pastors will be providing counselling services to the people of Fort McMurray as they return home. In addition to these different projects, we have also signed a contract with the Government of Alberta to take charge of donation management. All non-monetary donations will be processed by ADRA Canada. For more information please visit www.adra.ca/Fort_McMurray.
UPDATE May 29: Here is an update on the Fort McMurray ACS/ADRA response and recovery efforts thus far.
The ADRA Assessment Team had a successful trip to Fort McMurray on May 21-22, 2016. Meetings were held with REOC (Regional Emergency Operations Centre), RMWB (Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo) staff, disaster response officials and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
ADRA has been requested to facilitate a distribution centre in Fort McMurray as well.
So far, ADRA, with the assistance/support of volunteers from the conference, will be engaged in the following:
1. Multi-agency warehouse, serving as donations operations centre in Edmonton on behalf of the Province of Alberta Human Services 2. Distribution centre in Fort McMurray on behalf of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo 3. Spiritual care (pastors) and psycho social support in Fort McMurray 4. Volunteer support in Fort McMurray clean up/debris removal/fridge & freezer removal 5. Community outreach/services via Fort McMurray Seventh-day Adventist Church
One way you can help is by donating financially to the Alberta Conference Disaster Relief Fund.
Since the needs in Fort McMurray are rapidly changing, it is more efficient to send monetary donations so that specific needs can be addressed and met.
UPDATE May 7: ADRA Canada and the Edmonton South Seventh-day Adventist Church delivered their 16th pickup truck load of supplies and 3rd Disaster Response trailer load to Northlands. #ymmfire
UPDATE 8:00 a.m. May 6: The Disaster Relief trailer has been unloaded at Northlands. From here the supplies will be distributed to the displaced families that are staying there. Supplies included, hygiene products (shaving cream, razors, toothpaste, tooth brushes, etc..), diapers, baby wipes, formula, sleeping bags, pillows, water, and food.
UPDATE 4:00 p.m. May 5: AB Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS) and ADRA Canada loading supplies at the Edmonton Airport and heading to Edmonton Northlands Reception Centre with disaster trailer tonight to hand out 2000 care kits, water and sleeping bags to evacuees.
UPDATE 8:45 a.m. May 5: ADRA Canada and the Alberta Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS) are offering assistance to those affected by the Fort McMurray fires. ADRA Canada and the Alberta Conference ACS joined together a few years ago to purchase a disaster response vehicle/trailer. That vehicle has been filled with supplies which will be delivered to those affected by this disaster. Local Alberta Conference churches will be providing volunteers. Local families have also opened their homes to the displaced. ADRA Canada has also partnered with GlobalMedic to send hygiene kits containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and a towel to 2,000 people. Assistance from the Alberta Conference ACS and ADRA Canada will continue in the upcoming days.
For more information about the Alberta Conference Adventist Community Services and how you can help, please contact the Alberta coordinator, Lyle Notice by phone at (587) 877-9793 or visit www.albertaadventist.ca/acs. If you’d like to support financially, please click on the following link www.albertaadventist.ca/online-giving or you can give through the ADRA Canada website at www.adra.ca.
UPDATE 2:45 p.m. May 4: We have received confirmation from individuals who were able to drive by the Fort McMurray Seventh-day Adventist Church that it appears to be intact. Also, the Edmonton South Seventh-day Adventist Church has setup a donation centre for toiletries and good quality used clothing. They will be open until 10 PM tonight and tomorrow to receive donations. Although there is real sense of urgency to respond to this state of local emergency, we are following proper procedures and protocols given by the NGO Council and allowing the Provincial Operations Centre (POC)/Alberta Emergency Management Agency to complete their work in fighting the fire. Evacuee information can be found on www.alberta.ca/emergency.cfm. People looking for evacuees and family members contact the Red Cross at 1-888-350-6070. Please note, If your Seventh-day Adventist church would like to organize a response initiative for the Fort McMurray disaster, please contact the Alberta Conference Adventist Community Services (ACS) director for information and direction at (587) 877-9793. We'll update you with more information as it becomes available.
PUBLISHED 10 a.m. May 4: Our thoughts and prayers are with all whose lives are impacted by the fires in Fort McMurray. We continue to monitor reports regarding the well being of our Adventist families in the community. More information will be provided as it becomes available. At this time, we are unable to confirm whether the Seventh-day Adventist Church was affected by the fires.
Alberta Adventist Community Services is working closely with the province of Alberta, NGO council of Alberta and ADRA Canada to determine how best to help those affected by this disaster. The Edmonton South Seventh-day Adventist Church (www.edmontonsouthadventist.ca) is providing shelter for those displaced by the evacuation order.
For more information about Adventist Community Services and how you can help, please contact the Alberta coordinator, Lyle Notice by phone at (587) 877-9793 or visit www.albertaadventist.ca/acs. If you’d like to financially support Alberta Conference Disaster Relief, please click on the following link www.albertaadventist.ca/online-giving or you can give through the ADRA Canada website at www.adra.ca.