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Social Recovery Task Force offering a hand to B.C. organizations

A wildfire burns on a mountain near Ashcroft, B.C., late Friday July 7, 2017. More than 3,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes in central British Columbia. A provincial state of emergency was declared after 56 new wildfires started Friday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

As B.C. battles over 200 wildfires, members of the community continue to help in any way they can.

The Social Recovery Task force in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is offering support and encouragement to social profit groups in B.C.

Chantal Beaver, executive director of the Hub Family Resource Centre and chair of the Social Recovery Task Force, says they want to help B.C. as they encounter a situation similar to our own.

“One of the lessons we have learned through our work with the Task Force is that there are both immediate and long-term needs when a community experiences a natural disaster, and it takes time for social profit organizations to assess both aspects,” said Beaver. “As members of the Social Recovery Task Force, we stand ready to provide support and assist the social profit organizations in British Columbia both today and in the future as they work with the residents of the communities impacted.”

The wildfire situation in B.C. is still developing, hot and dry conditions are expected throughout the central and southern Interior of the province.

More than 14-thousand people have been forced from their homes, with many others placed under an evacuation alert.

The Social Recovery Task Force is also reminding residents here at home to take care of themselves.

Beaver says the news coming from B.C. could act as a trigger for memories and emotions related to last year.

“We would like to remind residents that support is available from a variety of local organizations should they wish to reach out for assistance in dealing with feelings of sadness, anxiety or other natural emotional responses to the situation occurring in BC,” continued Beaver.

For support you can access 211 Alberta, either by calling 2-1-1 or online.