Spruceland Lumber, owned by United Farmers of Alberta (UFA), is doing more than just supplying the materials needed for the rebuild after the wildfire. They are highlighting the hard work being done by NGOs Supporting Uninsured and Underinsured Residents (NSUUR), to get the 317 households who were uninsured or under insured back into their homes.
In May 2016, UFA announced a donation of $50,000 to support relief and rebuilding efforts in Fort McMurray. Shortly after, UFA employees stepped up together and raised almost $11,000 for the Canadian Red Cross Alberta Fires Appeal, to which the UFA matched, making an initial donation of almost $22,000. On Wednesday, Nov. 15 UFA donated the remaining funds to NSUUR, which total $35,000.
“Since the devastating fires in Fort McMurray, we have seen both heartache and victory — and above all, we have witnessed the power of the co-operative spirit. It’s inspiring to know that we can move forward together, and that the NSUUR group of charities is embracing the value of a co-operative approach,” said Carol Kitchen, UFA President and CEO.
The donation will be able to be used immediately to help fund the building projects that are currently underway and will be accessible for NSUUR to purchase supplies needed to complete their rebuilding projects.
“NSUUR is excited to partner with UFA, through our local Spruceland Lumber store, to help vulnerable homeowners recover from the loss of their homes in the Horse River Wildfire. UFA’s donation will reduce the financial burden on our partner homeowners, as we work side-by-side with them to reconstruct their lost homes,” said Crystal Lewis-Wilton, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Wood Buffalo.
