United Way NWT has begun its efforts to assist Behchokǫ̀ evacuees who had to flee their homes on short notice last night.
“United Way is responding in two ways,” United Way NWT Chairperson David Connelly tells MyTrueNorthNow. “We’re working on getting gift cards into the hands of the people running the evacuation centre at the Multiplex, and those will be available for distribution today,” Conelly adds.
Raising funds is a key priority for United Way and Connelly says the generosity of northerners is what matters most during natural disaster situations.
“This is a huge lift in terms of needing the responses, we’ve had thousands of evacuees this season,” Connelly says.
As the wildfire season continues in the territory, over six communities have been serviced by United Way, most notably in Hay River/KFN which is still feeling the effects of their own wildfire. Connelly says donations raised in the Hay River/KFN fires are continuing to be dispersed
“Communities such as Hay River, once they get back into the community and find out what their needs are, they make ongoing requests as well,” Connelly says.
Those interested in donating to support evacuees are encouraged to do so here.
