Fort McMurray - Donations and charity discussion - (Red Cross tally = $39,596.50)

[TheDragon]

Over $38,000, now!

What a great show of support by this community!

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Minnie

I checked with the guy who thought this little guy would like it and if you're willing to donate it, he said to go ahead. I could pick up tomorrow afternoon or early evening, or Saturday/Sunday. I'm out all day Friday, going for a hike with my son. Saturday we have to drop a mutt off for a groomer's appointment at noon, but could come after that. Sunday is free all day. Let me know what works for you and we'll arrange via PM. Thanks a bunch - I'm sure this little guy will love it.

Done, I will PM you info.

[FLAMESRULE]

Add another $500

[worth]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...ticle29983405/





I have seen a lot of stories and posts in social media questioning if the Red Cross would give this money to victims.

This is really amazing to see.

Great news.

$50 million seems like so much money, but when you do the math and divide it out by 80,000 people, it's almost peanuts. There are people saying, OK, stop giving money to the Red Cross, they have enough, but in reality it barely scratches the surface.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Do you have a link to this?

Our company has just announced it will match employee donations, and use the Federal/Provincial Matching in if press release.

It basically depends on how donations at a company are collected:

1) Individuals make donations on their own and provide their receipt to the company. The company then matches the total donations. The individual donations get the gov't matching

2) Individuals give cash / cheques to their employer. Employer then takes that and matches. Since no direct individuals donations were made, there is no gov't matching.

My girlfriend's company was doing number 2, but we asked them if they could switch to option 1 instead to get the benefit of the gov't matching. They happily agreed, and I suspect most businesses would too.

[Barbecue]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Do you have a link to this?

Our company has just announced it will match employee donations, and use the Federal/Provincial Matching in if press release.

I emailed the red cross on what the Feds meant by matching "individual" donations

The Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta will each be matching all donations made only by individual persons to the Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal between May 3 – 31, 2016.
Unfortunately, donations made on behalf of corporations and/or businesses will not qualify for the Government matching.

[Barbecue]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

Did you contact The Flames? I'd bet they would put something together. There has to be a player still in town or some alumni.



At least the Federal government said they will match individual donations. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fort...ross-1.3567828

the keyword here is individual

corporate cheques, donations under a business name won't be match

[habernac]

The Habs have now donated $100,000 as well. How many teams so far? Love hearing about this stuff.

[Knut]

Our Office has dispensed 7 free pairs of glasses to people from Ft. McMurray.

I am not sure on other FYiDoctors locations, but i bet Edmonton area clinics have dispensed even more.

All have been extremely grateful.

[worth]

Good on ya Hes. I can imagine people not being able to get their glasses and spending a week with the same pair of contacts. Getting a pair of glasses is probably a huge relief for their eyes.

[Rhettzky]

200 donated today cause I want to see us break 40k.

Kudos to everyone on the forum, this has been very impressive.

[rd_aaron]

Calgary Roughnecks are offering the following in their playoff game tomorrow (May 14th):

- $4 from every ticket sale plus 50-50 proceeds go to recovery efforts
- Free ticket to the game with Fort McMurray ID.
- Red Cross accepting donations on the concourse.
- Calgary food bank accepting non-perishable items.

[EverfresH15]

Donated 50

[TheDragon]

Sorry for the late update to the total!

[GullFoss]

Donated C$200.

[GullFoss]

Originally Posted by worth

Great news.

$50 million seems like so much money, but when you do the math and divide it out by 80,000 people, it's almost peanuts. There are people saying, OK, stop giving money to the Red Cross, they have enough, but in reality it barely scratches the surface.

I dont think its that simple. The great thing about the Red Cross is that it getting money to everyone whose been affected and is doing it quickly. The problem is that speed comes at the expense of assessing need.

A lot of people will be almost fully covered through their insurance companies. I imagine the province will also cover a lot of peoples insurance deductable, immediate needs like toiletries and clothes, some type of aid for those underinsured, new appliances, landfill charges, via a disaster recovery program.

So from that perspective - I understand the sentiment. The Red Cross is going to distribute most funds to everyone equally, but needs will not be equal. Those who have been laid off hourly work or work for a small business that can't afford to pay them will hurt more than salaried workers who will continue to earn a full paycheck (like those working for the city, suncor and syncrude among others). Those who underinsured or couldnt afford insurance will hurt more than those that have it. A lot of tenants probably dont have tenant insurance. People who are suffering from PST will need extra support. Those who don't have family (or have relationships with their family) anywhere else in the country need more support than those with family they can turn to. Those who got their vehicles out need less help than those who left their vehicles behind in Fort McMurray. Young people and families may have less savings than empty nesters.

The possibilities are endless. Its not to say, "don't give," but a time will come where grass-roots organizations can be more effective at assessing specific needs and targeting those needs cost effectively and efficiently.

[Jiggy]

Donated $75. Hoping to do more next payday.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

While it's not a ton last night I spent $40 on two tickets to the Givin' Back to the Mac benefit concert in Sydney NS last night. I also spent $5 on one of the draws. Granted $45 isn't a lot, I guess it adds up as the community raised $250,000 last night



The concert is available online at http://givinbacktothemac.ca/

It features: Bruce Gouthro, The Men of the Deeps, Jordan Musycsyn, The Barra MacNeils, Aaron Lewis and Matt Minglewood. It was hosted by Bette MacDonald and Maynard Morrison (if you watch Mr. D, Bette MacDonald is the school's secretary).

Great concert, varied lineup, check it out.

[killer_carlson]

Great effort from Cape Breton. Wow.

[para transit fellow]

Wisdom Gained

Charity intelligence recently posted a summary of " Wisdom Gained: lessons from slave lake recovery":
https://www.charityintelligence.ca/3...ake-s-recovery

Here is an exerpt from the summary:


Key giving tips from Slave Lake fire:

• Donate cash to help the township and its local charities – Salvation Army, foodbanks, community centres
• Do NOT send donated goods
• Know the local needs of the community
• Do not show up to help without checking in with the township who is leading the recovery and do not expect the township to provide you with room and board while you do your charity work.

the full document is here:
http://www.nadc.gov.ab.ca/Docs/Wisdom-Gained.pdf

A full review of the entire emergency resonpse was compiled by KPMG:
http://www.aema.alberta.ca/documents...nal-Report.pdf