Red Cross thanks Canadians for generous donations to Attawapiskat

Canadian Red Cross is delivering items including first aid kits, comfort kits and flash lights
Canadian Red Cross is delivering items including first aid kits, comfort kits and flash lights
Visiting families in the community
Visiting families in the community
Temperatures are already dipping below -30 in Attawapiskat
Temperatures are already dipping below -30 in Attawapiskat
Visiting families in Attawapiskat
Visiting families in Attawapiskat
Red Cross volunteers working to help the community
Red Cross volunteers working to help the community
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck
Riding in the back of a pick-up truck
Many homes do not have proper insulation so Red Cross is bringing sleeping bags, heaters and insulation materials
Many homes do not have proper insulation so Red Cross is bringing sleeping bags, heaters and insulation materials
Red Cross volunteers Jenn and Jim hard at work
Red Cross volunteers Jenn and Jim hard at work
One of many Husky dogs in the community
One of many Husky dogs in the community
Jen loading up supplies to bring to families
Jen loading up supplies to bring to families
Visiting a home
Visiting a home
Chatting with community members
Chatting with community members
A little girl hiding out in the Northern Store where many supplies can be purchased
A little girl hiding out in the Northern Store where many supplies can be purchased
Canadian Red Cross brings comfort kits, first aid kits, sleeping bags, heaters and flashlights to this home where nine people live
Canadian Red Cross brings comfort kits, first aid kits, sleeping bags, heaters and flashlights to this home where nine people live
Preparing for another distribution
Preparing for another distribution
Homes in Attawapiskat
Homes in Attawapiskat
Canadian Red Cross is distributing compact first aid kits to help families
Canadian Red Cross is distributing compact first aid kits to help families
A mother in her kitchen talking with Red Crossers
A mother in her kitchen talking with Red Crossers
Red Cross works with the local community in Attawapiskat
Red Cross works with the local community in Attawapiskat
Many dogs!
Many dogs!
Jen, a Red Cross volunteer from Timmins, loading up sleeping bags
Jen, a Red Cross volunteer from Timmins, loading up sleeping bags
More supplies
More supplies
Home in Attawapiskat
Home in Attawapiskat
More supplies
More supplies
Bringing supplies to families most vulnerable to the cold
Bringing supplies to families most vulnerable to the cold
Attawapiskat
Attawapiskat
Learning about the challenges people in the community face
Learning about the challenges people in the community face
This woman lives in a home without running water. Red Cross brought sleeping bags, clothing and other necessities
This woman lives in a home without running water. Red Cross brought sleeping bags, clothing and other necessities
Chatting with members of the community
Chatting with members of the community

Thanks to the swift and generous response of Canadians, the Red Cross has the funds needed to meet the immediate needs of the most vulnerable families in Attawapiskat.

The Canadian Red Cross mandate in Attawapiskat is to provide short-term aid to the community to help ensure that families will stay warm and safe through the winter months. To determine exactly which supplies were needed, Canadian Red Cross officials spent several days in the community doing an assessment by visiting dwellings and speaking with community members.

Based on that assessment, the Red Cross identified a need for items such as durable winter clothing, bed frames, mattresses, heaters, generators, materials to improve home insulation, and industrial laundry equipment.  These items are critical to keeping families warm in sub zero temperatures.

Thanks to donations from Canadians, the Red Cross is able to purchase, transport and distribute these urgently needed items. Already four plane loads of Red Cross supplies have been sent to Attawapiskat with more scheduled in the coming days.

“The efforts of the Canadian Red Cross have been instrumental in addressing immediate, short-term needs and will help to ensure the safety and well-being of our most vulnerable community members during the winter months,” says Chief Theresa Spence.

Once the emergency response concludes, the Canadian Red Cross will remain in close communication with community leaders regarding ways we can support the community to build capacity for future emergencies through preparedness activities and volunteer training.

The Attawapiskat fund will close on December 9.

If you have more questions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions

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