of August 2016. Anyone with a Red Cross number could access us to receive assistance. It was an intense and demanding summer which brought our team and volunteers together more than ever before. Over 400 volunteers gave us 2,679 hours of their time, and it is no overstatement that we could not have pulled it off without them. That summer we handed out 7,894 weekly hampers, serving 14,111 people. Throughout this past year, we have received incredible support both from the community and from across Canada. Donations of food have come from as far east as Prince Edward Island, and groups of volunteers have travelled from different provinces to assist us for a few days. Local businesses and organizations have shown their support by hosting numerous fundraisers to raise money and food for us, and by sending groups of staff to volunteer and help in the warehouse. As well, we formed and maintained valuable partnerships with several local organizations such as the Fort McMurray SPCA to assist families with their pets, and the St. Aiden’s Society to deliver hampers to those seniors with limited accessibility. Peace of mind A good night’s sleep takes more than a comfortable bed, it takes knowing that your family is safe. That’s why, for more than a decade, the Enbridge Safe Community Program has granted over $10 million to local first responders in neighbourhoods across North America. We are proud to support these dedicated men and women who put their own lives on the line to ensure that ours are protected at all times. When the energy you invest in life meets the energy we fuel it with, safe communities happen.
With this amazing support we received, we have been able to get back to normal operations, with our regular programs back in full swing and new programs being developed. As our demand remains high and the community continues to rebuild, we know that we have the support we need to continue to provide the programs and services that offer the resources and education necessary to ensure food security for all citizens in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. n
60 Fort McMurray Construction Association