The developmentally disabled clients of Community Living Guelph Wellington spearheaded a fundraising effort this summer that raised $2,800 for a similar organization in fire ravaged Fort McMurray.
Choices Association of Fort McMurray was negatively affected by the fire. Participants in a number of Community Living programs held small-scale fundraiser events and activities to offer financial aid, said Laura Hanley, executive director of Community Living.
Hanley said the idea of raising funds for victims of the fire was hatched back in May as the fire raged, destroying parts of the northern Alberta city.
“The people we support in Erin were talking with their supervisor,” Hanley said, “and they said, ‘Do they have people like us there? What are they going to do? What if they can’t go back to their building?’ So the supervisor Kim Aitken took the ball and ran with it.”
Aitken got in touch with Choices of Fort McMurray and put out a challenge to other offices and programs within Community Living to raise money.
“People picked up on it and they were doing barbecues outside, spaghetti lunches, and a few folks had swear-jars with ‘Swear to Care for Fort McMurray’ written on it,” Hanley said, adding that Erin had a ‘Fort Mack and Cheese Day,’ with a variety of macaroni and cheese dishes for sale.
“There were all sorts of lunches, dinners and collections,” she said.
The Choices Association of Fort McMurray earmarked the funds to go directly to helping those in the Alberta community who have a disability and are trying to gain employment, or are waiting to return to jobs they held prior to the wildfires breaking out.
“They are going to buy hard hats, coveralls, reflective vests, work gloves and things like that,” Hanley added. The money was sent a few weeks ago.
Choices has been in existence in Fort McMurray since 1969. It provides employment support, and helps expand opportunities for those with barriers and disabilities, including cognitive and learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, mental health issues, physical disabilities, and brain injuries.
The agency is funded by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and the Alberta government.
