The Athabasca Agriplex evacuation centre closed its doors at 5 p.m. on May 17, after helping thousands of Fort McMurray evacuees over the past two weeks.
The mostly volunteer based staff decided to shut down as numbers began to dwindle over the weeks, as a majority of evacuees have either already passed through or found their footing in spite of the recent wildfire disaster.
Athabasca Ag Society board director Dee Lambert said during the first week they had on average 300 people per day going in and out of the centre. From May 13-16, that average dropped to 100 or less.
“Most of the people that were coming into the Agriplex were staying locally, or have family or own property locally,” Lambert said. “We didn’t get too many people that were just travelling through. The first day or two maybe, but after that it was jut the local people trying to get set up and organized.”
With copious amounts of donated food items from the Good Samaritan Mission and cities such as Lloydminster, Bonnyville and Dawson Creek, the Agriplex has decided to keep the donations within the community.
The Athabasca Lions Club took a majority of the canned food to be donated to a relief centre in Fort McMurray.
“They’re opening up a centre in Fort McMurray, once the people start going back up there,” Lambert said. “I understand that they did lose their food bank, or it’s badly damaged.”
Lambert said a majority of the clothing will be going to the Good Samaritan Mission and the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre so people will have access to it throughout the summer.
“It was mainly clothes, toys and some household items, and that’s mainly what we took,” said Kerri Daniels, president of the Good Samaritan Mission. “We want to continue to help Fort Mac people and want to keep it in the community.”
Fort McMurray evacuees seeking any additional help, whether it’s food or clothing, will now have to contact the Good Samaritan Food Bank.
“We’re holding supplies for Fort McMurray families and Fort McMurray families have been coming steady to the food bank,” Daniels said.
Lambert was very pleased with how smoothly everything went during the two weeks, saying the Athabasca AG society did a very good job and the Fort McMurray Evacuees were very grateful.
“They were just super people to deal with and I’m sure I made some friends that I’ll have for a long time now,” said Lambert.
