Citizens of Bonnyville found a way to help flood-affected communities in southern Alberta by sending three full truckloads of donated items down to the worst hit areas of the province.
Three 50-foot trailers packed with water, canned good, clothes, toiletries, baby food, dog food, first aid kits and other essentials were sent to several small communities in southern Albeta. The first truck went to Siksika and the second truck to Morely.
Sarah Sansom, a Bonnyville resident who is originally from Calgary, felt the need to offer help to the victims of the flood and organized the donation process.
“My family is there and my friends are there. I'm a Calgarian. I was in tears (when I found out),” said Sansom “My oldest daughter was born in High River and seeing it under water, I couldn't just sit back and let it happen and not do anything about it.”
It started with a simple Facebook post alerting friends that she was interested in doing anything she could to help. An overwhelming number of positive responses came in.
B&R Eckels and Scorpion Industries donated the trailers and drivers to take the donations wherever they were needed.
“The amount of time it happened in (was surprising). I went to bed. I woke up and that morning the phone calls and messages were overwhelming,” said Sansom. “It just kind of exploded and I said lets go big or go home.”
Sansom and friends spent more than four days in front of the Centennial Center collecting donations, following the news of the floods June 21. Members of the Bonnyville Jiu Jitsu club, local churches and other community groups donated their time and helped out as well.
Several pick-up trucks loaded with donations were driven up from the St. Paul and Saddle Lake regions and added to the trailers.
“It is not me that did this. I couldn't have done this without all of this help,” said Sansom. “This is the community. This is the volunteers. This is the businesses. This is way bigger than anything I could have imagined. This is awesome.”
Sansom, along with all of the other volunteers involved were just happy they were able to help out and contribute to communities that were in great need.
“I am not feeling helpless anymore. I felt so helpless being here when it happened, but now I am helping where I can. It is the best feeling in the world.”
