FCL partnership helps with flood responses in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

With thanks to the support provided by Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), trained Red Cross volunteers responded immediately to the flooding in Saskatchewan and Manitoba with prepositioned goods such as cots, blankets, clean-up and hygiene kits.  Red Cross has already provided thousands of clean-up kits and hygiene kits to communities in both provinces.  Red Cross outreach teams are continuing to meet with families impacted by the flooding to determine what additional help will be needed as they begin to recover in the weeks and months ahead.

Manitoba residents affected by recent flooding can now receive assistance from the Canadian Red Cross in person or over the telephone.  People who were affected by flooding can call the Canadian Red Cross toll-free number 1-888-662-3211 to learn more about available services in Manitoba.  Red Cross began meeting with affected Manitobans last week.  Today, Canadian Red Cross began travelling to several communities to offer immediate help, cleaning supplies, and personal care kits.

Red Cross is also setting up mobile Flood Recovery Centres in Saskatchewan to support flood-affected individuals and families in remote rural areas and smaller centres.  These mobile centres complement the confidential, toll-free Red Cross Recovery and Information Line 1-888-953-3463 and stationary Canadian Red Cross Flood Recovery Centres in the province.

Over the past year, funds received from the first year of the $1 million, five-year partnership with FCL and the Co-operative Retailing System, enabled Red Cross to recruit and train more than 350 disaster management volunteers and provide preparedness activities across Western Canada.  In response to the flooding in Saskatchewan, FCL volunteers recently stepped up to assist with a flood relief concert in Yorkton, and several local Co-op made a group donation that FCL matched for a total donation of $16,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Saskatchewan Flood response.  FCL volunteers in Manitoba are also ready to help out, and additional donations are being organized.

Given the current flooding situation in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, this support from FCL couldn’t be timelier.

You too can help by donating to the flood recovery effort.  Donations can be made online to the Canadian Red Cross response in Saskatchewan, or the Canadian Red Cross response in Manitoba, by calling 1-800-418-1111, or at any Red Cross office.  All donations should be earmarked to either Saskatchewan Floods or Manitoba Floods.

Read more about the support provided to Red Cross by FCL.