Community members collect toys, food and clothing for First Nation wildfire evacuees staying in Winnipeg hotels
With more than 2,000 people evacuated from First Nation communities in Manitoba, community members are collecting donations of food, clothes and toys for the families cooped up in hotel rooms.
Virginia Thomas was among the evacuees from Bloodvein First Nation – one of five First Nation communities that have been forced to be evacuated due to wildfires and smoke.
Thomas said during Bloodvein's evacuation on Monday, she was helping to spread the word for families to pack up and get out.
"Some of them were ready, some of them were not. So many of them left without clothing," she said.
"All the other communities around the surrounding areas were helping with the evacuees and that was really heart touching as well."
As of Thursday, the Canadian Red Cross said more than 2,000 people were evacuated from their homes in Little Grand Rapids, Bloodvein, Berens River, Pauingassi, and Red Sucker Lake.
The Red Cross said most of these evacuees have been staying in hotels in Winnipeg.
For many of the families – particularly those with small children – the move from their homes to a hotel in Winnipeg has been difficult, Thomas said.
"We don't know when we're going to go home, and that's so stressful for so many of us," she said.
"Many are really lonely for home – the older people, the children want to go home, they're so used to just stepping outside and going to play outside."
To help the effort, Thomas has been organizing donations for these families.
Thomas, who put out the call on Facebook on Friday, said the response has been overwhelming.
She said donations have been piling in, including food, clothing, shoes, and toys for the children to play with while stuck in a hotel room.
"I've been getting phone calls, I've been getting text messages, inboxes from many, many people," she said. "They're being so generous and kind-hearted about donations and it is so overwhelming for me."
For many families, it may be a while yet before they can return to their homes.
As of Saturday, the Manitoba Wildfire Service said 132 fires are burning across the province, including a number of fires near Bloodvein.
Frank Young, a CFS worker for Bloodvein who has been helping in the evacuation effort, said the fire around their community spread quickly.
"It actually ignited really close to our road, and when it actually picked up speed from the south-east, it jumped across the road," he said. "And then it just went crazy."
The fire damaged hydro poles in the area, knocking out power. Manitoba Hydro said it could take days for the power to be restored.
As of Saturday, Manitoba Hydro said the outage is affecting more than 1,500 people and is expected to be restored on Tuesday.
Thomas said she will continue to collect donations. They are calling for toys, bubble bath, snacks, books, clothing, juice boxes or bottles, games.
-with files from CTV's Jill Macyshon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.