Non-profits look to Fort McMurray benefit concert for needed funds
Organizers of Fire Aid concert are hoping to raise more than $2.3 million
Struggling non-profit agencies in Fort McMurray are hoping money raised at the Fire Aid benefit concert at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium next week will help them get up and running.
"The concert is one way that we'll be able to raise a significant amount of money so that we're prepared, that we have the money there so we can respond immediately," said Diane Shannon, executive director of the United Way in Fort McMurray.
Shannon said the challenges facing the non-profits are tremendous.
"Half of my team is still scattered across the country. Some of them lost their homes," Shannon said in Edmonton Friday.
Four of her eight full-time staff who are in Fort McMurray are having a difficult time getting to the office, she said.
"All of them have children under 10 that require caregivers," said Shannon. "Every one of them lost their child care."
The United Way is luckier than many other non-profit agencies in Fort McMurray. While most are not yet functional, the United Way is aiming to re-open July 4.
"The offices will be clean and enough staff will be returned to make a difference in delivering programs again," she said.
Greater mental health challenges
Returning evacuees are experiencing greater mental health challenges than anticipated. Shannon counts herself among those people.
"Driving back into town I was overwhelmed with the feelings of the losses we'd experienced," she said.
Shannon said it's known from previous disasters that seniors who felt isolated before will feel even more so as many of their supports are gone.
Low-income people will struggle to replace what they've lost, or may not have the means to properly clean their homes.
Domestic violence is known to increase following disasters, Shannon added, because families are isolated from their supports.
Shannon doesn't have a goal for how much she would like to see raised by the benefit. But she says organizers want to exceed the $2.3 million raised for Alberta flood victims in 2013.
But the revenue is desperately needed, she said.
"We'll be able to get the program going, get the staff hired, get the supplies required immediately so that we can help people."