L’Isle-Verte, January 31, 2014 – Thanks to the generosity of individuals and companies that have contributed some $300,000 to support the community of L’Isle-Verte, the Red Cross has set up an assistance program for those affected by the tragic fire. Today, the Red Cross announces the details of its program.
“We are meeting today with local stakeholders to tell them about our assistance program. As always, we are working closely with the municipal authorities and the various agencies involved to make sure that the program meets the needs of the community, and that the assistance to each Red Cross beneficiary is directly or indirectly appropriate to the consequences of the disaster,” said Michel Léveillé, Red Cross Director General in Quebec.
“We developed our program with a budget of $300,000 after closing the fund on Saturday, January 25, when it reached $200,000. We were aware at that time that initiatives were under way, and in all likelihood, people had already mailed donations that would reach us this week. It is important to note that all of the money will go to those affected by the disaster, and to the community of L’Isle-Verte,” Mr. Léveillé continued.
The assistance program
Administrative costs for the Red Cross fund for L’Isle-Verte will not exceed 5 per cent, meaning that for every dollar donated, at least 95 cents will go directly to those affected, and to the community. Assistance will be provided to meet the primary essential needs of the following groups: affected occupants of the Résidence du Havre, members of the immediate family of those affected, the deceased and the missing, and workers at the home who have lost their jobs as a result of the fire.
The money collected will also be used to support local schools and the community of L’Isle-Verte to promote public gatherings and the organization of activities, and assist partners who incurred expenses in providing emergency and resettlement services following the disaster. Red Cross assistance is always designed to complement existing programs and insurance coverage, thus avoiding duplication.
Help provided to date
From the first moments of the fire, Red Cross volunteers set up a reception centre for evacuees and others affected at the Moisson d’Arts primary school in L’Isle-Verte. During the first hours, they interviewed some twenty people affected, including those who were evacuated to homes near the Résidence du Havre. Those interviewed were comforted and given blankets and toiletries. Since Thursday, January 23, volunteers have been going to the facilities to which those affected were evacuated in order to assess their specific needs. Red Cross teams are still on duty at the Moisson d’Arts primary school to greet and interview other groups of people affected by the tragedy. Thanks to the generosity of the public, the Red Cross will be able to stay on site as long as necessary to support the local authorities in their response, and provide assistance to those affected.
About the Red Cross in Quebec
The Red Cross acts before, during and after a disaster to meet the needs of those affected. In Quebec, as it does everywhere else, the Red Cross develops prevention programs, helps communities prepare and provides humanitarian and material support to those who have lost everything as a result of a disaster. The Red Cross supports the local authorities and the Government of Quebec as required. It is their principal partner in providing services to those affected by disasters.