McDougall Creek Wildfire – Resources and Ways to Help
As you likely know, numerous places in Canada are being impacted by wildfires. In this urgent blog post, I bring you essential resources and ways to lend a helping hand to those affected by the McDougall Creek Wildfire.
This past weekend, it hit close to home for us as a fire in West Kelowna started on August 15th, 2023 which rapidly grew and then jumping to the Kelowna side leaving people evacuated from their homes. I’ve also been personally impacted and have been evacuated from my home since Thursday, August 17th.
How You Can Help
- Donate to Mamas for Mamas, a nonprofit organization helping mamas and families in need. This can be in the form of monetary, food and drink, or clothing donations. Check out this post outlining what items are urgently needed or follow along their Instagram.
- Contribute by giving a monetary donation to Central Okanagan Food Bank which will assist in the distribution of food to those facing urgent needs.
- Purchase West Kelowna Strong Merch and 100% of proceeds go to the 2023 Wildfire Response Fund through The Central Okanagan Foundation.
- Donate to Red Cross which will assist with immediate and ongoing relief, recovery and resilience efforts.
- Donate to Salvation Army Canada.
- Download the Do Some Good app to find meaningful ways to get involved with local organizations and businesses.
Resources for Those Impacted
- Mother Love Kombucha is offering free kombucha and a hangout space with boardgames for everyone.
- Anytime Fitness Downtown Kelowna is offering free workouts and showers to all first responders and anyone who has been displaced.
- All Kelowna Pita Pit and Fresh Slice locations, as well as Chester’s Chicken are providing free meals for firefighters, RCMP, and evacuees.
- The Rutland Family Y, Downtown Y and H2O centre are all offering complimentary access to evacuees.
- Prospera Place is offering temporary shelter and as well as food 24/7. If you are looking for food vouchers, you have to go to West Kelowna Royal LePage Place.
- If you are in need of food assistance, please visit the Central Okanagan Food Bank.
- Earl’s of Sandwich is offering a free sandwich for evacuees and firefighters.
- Black Rabbit Coffee House offering free black coffee and sandwiches for evacuees.
- Sandhill Wines is offering free wine tastings for evacuees.
- Empire Crepe is offering a free meal, phone charging, washrooms, and water for any evacuees.
- Red Bird Brewing is offering a complimentary meal and a hangout spot for evacuees and frontline workers.
- Erica Jane Restaurant offering 40% discount for firefighters and evacuees as well as $9.50 kids meals.
- Porter’s Kelowna offering 15% off all food to evacuees.
- Moxies Kelowna is welcoming evacuees, hosts, and first responders to a night of food and games to provide relief, Tuesday August 22nd from 4:00-9:00pm.
- iThrift Kelowna in Rutland is offering supplies to evacuees.
- Nuvue Optometry is offering to replace prescription eyewear if anybody lost theirs during this tragedy.
- Green Bay Bible Camp is taking in evacuees for free.
- Kelowna Gospel Mission Thrift Store is gifting evacuees two outfits and pajamas.
- Hailey Kanigan Counselling offering low-cost/free trauma counselling to those in need.
- Fund the Fight, Thursday August 24th 7:00-10:00pm at Okanagan Mission Community Hall – 100% of proceeds will be donated to Mamas For Mamas. Evacuees attend for free thanks to Lora + Christy Real Estate.
*Please note: these resources are subject to change on a daily basis.
Important Articles To Read
- A Kelowna resident recently wrote a blog post titled How to Calm Your Climate Anxiety: Insights from a Kelowna Resident During Wildfire Season which you can read here.
- Tips for Returning Home After an Evacuation you can read here.
- Stay updated with local Kelowna news here and here.
- Keep updated on Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Map here.
- If you are evacuated, please register here. Evacuees from West Kelowna who live south of Traders Cove can go to Royal LePage Place at 2760 Cameron Rd. For those who live north of Traders Cove, a reception centre is available at Kal Tire Place at 3445 43rd Ave in Vernon as well as Princess Margaret Secondary School, 120 Green Ave West, Penticton. In Kelowna, The Salvation Army at 1480 Sutherland Ave is available. All reception centres are open from 9:00am-8:00pm daily.
In light of these devastating events, I also want to express immense gratitude for our first responders who risk their lives battling these fires day in and day out. Their bravery deserves recognition beyond words can convey. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the incredible resilience exhibited by the community as they come together during difficult times like these – supporting one another with acts of kindness and generosity amidst adversity is truly inspiring in itself.
I hope that you all stay safe and take care of yourselves. Help raise awareness about the wildfire and the recovery efforts by sharing this article and other resources on social media.
-Jenna xoxo