Skip to content

LETTERS: Help us help those who need it

Editor: It has been more than a month since the May 15 Pacific Avenue fire (Five Corners up in flames, May 18).
24723whiterockFire-TeresaFrederick-06copy
Firefighters take on a White Rock construction-site fire that left nearly 100 neighbours homeless last month.

Editor:

It has been more than a month since the May 15 Pacific Avenue fire (Five Corners up in flames, May 18).

Sources Community Resource Centres has been working in partnership with the City of White Rock and the Peninsula Pastors Network to co-ordinate how to best help displaced residents as quickly as possible.

We have received over $40,000 in donations for the White Rock Fire Fund, and we know more is on the way.

Already, we have dispersed half of those dollars. While many of the evacuated residents have been helped, there are still many that have not (‘Fire people’ feel left in cold by city, June 17) – and we need to hear from them.

Four things would help us be more effective – and you can help. Here’s how:

• Community members, businesses and organizations have been fundraising for fire victims. Please contact us so we can plan the dispersal of funds. Let’s work together. Please call 604-542-7594.

• If you are or know a resident who was evacuated because of the fire, please ask them to contact us by June 30 to register for a needs assessment. Please call 604-542-7594.

• If you are or know a resident that who evacuated because of the fire and wanting counselling services, please call us at 604-538-2522.

• Donations of furniture and household items or potential accommodations are being managed by the Peninsula Pastors Network. Contact Peter Klenner at 604-209-5570.

While the process has not been perfect, what we know for sure is we are all doing our best from the bottom of our hearts to help our neighbours in need.

The fire was a tragedy, but the generosity coming out of our community has been positively inspiring.

David Young, Sources Community Resource Centres