Humanity shown at its greatest for evacuees by Regina citizens, organizations
- Tiffany Head | July 14, 2015
For those who have had to evacuate from their communities, most of them left their homes with only the clothes on their backs or if they were lucky with a pair or two and with very little or few supplies and clothing for their own children.
The general public and organizations have worked together to support the evacuees in any way they can. It is not an easy time for people who have had to leave the comforts of their own homes, to find themselves displaced in sometimes a city they are unfamiliar with.
Many angels have come forward to offer their time to help. Shylo Stevenson, who owns a taxi business in Fort Qu’Appelle, has put his business on hold and has been staying at the Regina hotel, with his children for a few weeks now. He had started noticing the evacuees and his children would play with their children.
“There were six of my neighbors there that were evacuees. I noticed that some of them were wearing the same clothe, the second or third day in a row and I asked them if they needed anything. They explained Red Cross only gave one outfit, so I told them, let me see what I can do. And, I put it out on face book, and it just started from there."
Before the gathering place, Stevenson and his friends would sit outside the Chateau Hotel offering free rides to the evacuees and soon they started collecting donations for the evacuees and they would sit out there and distribute whatever donations came in and the evacuees collected what they needed.
Stevenson says soon after, he got a call from Fort Qu’Appelle Health (FHQ) and asked him if they needed anything and he told them they needed a bigger place to have people take donations to.
“My living room in my suite was filling up with donations, and that’s how the gathering came to be, they took over what I call, my little Mickey Mouse operation,” says Stevenson.
He says he will continue to offer his services, driving people around from the hotels until he himself runs out of funds or gets called up North to fight fires, whichever comes first.
The Regina Treaty/ Status Indian Services Inc. (RTSIS) who has a long standing partnership with the city of Regina and with Red Cross, started meeting to set up ways they could help together.
“We met late last week and looked at the gaps that were occurring and decided as a team that we would do what we felt was right, as treaty 4 territorial urban services...that we would extend a hand with our Treat 6, 8 and 10 neighbors,” said Erica Beaudin, the urban service manager at RTSIS.
She says every since they have opened the gathering place, which is located on, 4001 3rd Avenue North, the donations have come pouring in, and the generosity and support from the people and organizations is greatly appreciated as the clothing bank and the suppers are constantly packed. They also receive monetary donations that go towards providing the suppers.
“The types of suppers that we have are, ones that would be more likely to be cooked at home, as opposed to restaurant meals or banquet meals that are being provided right now. This evening we are having neck bones and potatoes along with soup and bannock. Those are the kinds of foods that we are providing,” says Beaudin.
No one knows how long the evacuees will be kept away from their homes for their safety, but as long as they are here the RTSIS and other organizations will continue their efforts
RTSIS has a direct line with the Red Cross Aboriginal Co-ordinator, Dee Friday, and they have access to the information they need in regards to the evacuee situation. The organizations also have a meeting every night at 7pm where they receive additional information.
Beaudin says there is a need for more volunteers.
“As long as the effort continues here at the gathering place, we are always looking for volunteers to sort, to fold clothing, to help us in the kitchen, as well as for activities and clean up,” says Beaudin.
The gathering place is open from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
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