Samaritan's Purse helping Nova Scotia wildfire victims
Christian relief agency sending equipment, staff to help Barrington, Shelburne residents
CALGARY, AB, June 16, 2023 /CNW/ - Samaritan's Purse Canada is sending staff and equipment to the Nova Scotia districts of Shelburne and Barrington to assist those who have lost their homes and possessions.
"Nova Scotians have been hit hard by these wildfires, and we are honoured to come alongside them as they recover," said Brent Davis, Samaritan's Purse Canada's director of Canadian ministry projects. "Our field teams have assessed the situation and are in contact with churches, municipal officials, and provincial wildfire staff in the area to support a coordinated response."
More than 235 square kilometres burned in late May and early June in the region, about three hours drive southwest of Halifax. The fire forced about 6,000 people to flee for their lives and burned 150 structures, including 60 homes. There is still a province-wide ban on open fires and ground crews continue to extinguish hot spots.
"We are thankful that Samaritan's Purse is willing to come because people in this area often feel forgotten," said Warren Gray Macleod, Shelburne's chief administrative officer.
Samaritan's Purse is moving staff, equipment, and vehicles?including a Disaster Relief Unit (a tractor trailer equipped with extensive safety and recovery equipment) to the area. Working with local churches and volunteers, it expects to begin sifting through debris and ash of destroyed buildings next week to find whatever valuables survived the fire for homeowners. Volunteers will also clean up fire-damaged properties.
Shelburne and Barrington residents can request help with their properties by calling 844-547-2663.
Samaritan's Purse already has staff and a 14-vehicle convoy set up in northern Alberta, helping the residents of Fox Lake recover from a wildfire that destroyed more than 200 buildings, including about 100 homes.
In recent years, Samaritan's Purse has helped victims of a wide variety of Canadian and international natural disasters including Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island in 2022, a massive 2021 hailstorm in Calgary; 2018 flooding in Grand Forks B.C. and St. John, NB; 2017 flooding in Vernon, B.C. and wildfires in Ashcroft and Williams Lake, B.C.; flooding in New Brunswick in 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2008; the catastrophic 2016 wildfire in Fort McMurray, AB; and flooding in Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, southern Alberta, and Nova Scotia.
Samaritan's Purse's "sister" organization, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, often helps by providing crisis-trained chaplains to comfort and pray with disaster victims. Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains will be in Shelburne and Barrington.
Please visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information on our response to the Nova Scotia wildfires, including volunteer opportunities.
Donations Needed
To support Samaritan's Purse's disaster relief efforts, please visit SamaritansPurse.ca (click on "Donate") or call 1-800-663-6500.
About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ's biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides disaster relief, our work includes collecting and distributing gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, providing safe water, teaching vocational skills, and providing agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Learn more at SamaritansPurse.ca.
SOURCE Samaritan's Purse Canada
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