The Jean Marie River community in the Dehcho region has a very sizable care package coming their way!
On February 10th, an RCMP plane touched down in Fort Simpson, with its payload set for delivery to Jean Marie River. What was in this plane? Why, around 1,300 pounds of food!
This delivery was organized by the RCMP National Division. Each year, they choose a community somewhere in the country as part of their “Adopt a Village” initiative. The organizers of Adopt a Village noted that Jean Marie River has a particularly hard 2021, due to a flood which left much of the community in ruin.
Ottawa RCMP member, Corporal Dawn Metallic who led the initiative, stated that National Division employees donated close to $3000. Corporal Metallic then got in contact with Jean Marie River leadership, and organized what kind of food items could be sent to the small community, and which were needed most. Volunteers in Ottawa went shopping and purchased canned vegetables, snacks for the children, baking goods, sugar, flour, shortening, pasta sauces, soup, and more.
From the Fort Simpson Airport, Corporal Metallic and Inspector Barry LaRocque, the NWT RCMP South District Officer in Charge, drove the food to Jean Marie River where it was added to its community food shelves where it will be shared with community members. The RCMP were also planning on distributing Valentine’s baskets, but due to COVID-19 concerns, it was decided to leave that duty to the community leadership.
Corporal Metallic stated, “it was a pleasure to lead this initiative so that the employees of National Division could provide the community of Jean Marie River some relief after a tough year with the flooding.”
Inspector Barry LaRocque states, “the community of Jean Marie River demonstrated great resilience this past year and for the RCMP to help out in this small way is fulfilling for us.”
