Note: The following appeal is now closed. You can support our ongoing work by donating to the Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross has launched an appeal for donations to assist hundreds of people forced from homes by severe flooding in southwest New Brunswick and the Fredericton area.
The Red Cross equipped and helped manage shelters or comfort stations in Fredericton, Oromocto, Burtts Corner, St. George and Bonny River, New Brunswick, registering more than 100 evacuees, providing overnight shelters for some and motel lodging for others with medical or mobility challenges. Red Cross volunteers will now turn their attention to assessing the needs of those left vulnerable by the flooding.
Red Cross is working with corporate supporters to provide cleanup kits and to offset some of the extraordinary living and recovery expenses for those forced from their homes. People directly impacted by the flooding can email enquiries to december.rain@redcross.ca.
Canadians wishing to donate financially can do so online, by calling 1-800-418-1111 and specify "NB Flood December 2010." Donations are accepted in person at Red Cross offices during business hours, or cheques made out to the Canadian Red Cross and earmarked "NB Flood December 2010" can be mailed t Canadian Red Cross, Donation Processing Centre, P.O. Box 39, Saint John, NB, E2L 3X3.
In-kind donations of food, clothing and other items, while well intentioned, are not the best way to help those in need. There are tremendous processing and transportation costs involved in shipping these items to beneficiaries. Local purchases of food and clothing are more culturally appropriate and effective. Red Cross supplies can be purchased in the immediate area, thereby reducing transportation costs. Cash transfers to the affected region provide the optimum flexibility to our Red Cross colleagues so they can meet the most urgent needs.