The Salvation Army and the Community of Abbotsford Support Those Affected by Fire
At 1:30 a.m. on Valentine’s Day, a massive fire ripped through the Delair Court apartments in Abbotsford, B.C., leaving more than 100 individuals and families homeless. The complex contained 57 units, all now uninhabitable due to extensive fire, smoke and water damage. Within a couple of hours, Emergency Social Services (ESS) and The Salvation Army set up a rescue operation centre at Cascade Community Church next door.
“It was a privilege to offer prompt and convenient respite for the residents in various stages of sleepy shock in the middle of the night,” says Captain Ian Gillingham, pastor at The Salvation Army’s Cascade Community Church.
“It was a privilege to offer prompt and convenient respite for the residents”
For the week, ESS staff and The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services team of volunteers met with the residents on site. They assessed their needs and provided food, refreshments, accommodations, special medical equipment, and other resources as needed.
“Abbotsford Assistant Fire Chiefs personally expressed their gratitude to The Salvation Army for providing timely emergency response services,” says Gillingham.
A ‘Help for Delair Court’ Facebook page prompted phone calls to The Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope asking for information on how to help. Clothing and household items began to flood into the Army’s thrift store.
Nearby, New Life Christian Reformed Church opened as a marketplace where residents received $100 vouchers redeemable at the thrift store and chose from the thousands of community donations.
Three hundred hampers were delivered to residents in Building A when they could return to their homes on March 5th. The Salvation Army also provided food hampers, frying pans and a $500 gift card to help Building B with future needs.
“Thank you to our neighbours and local non-profits, such as The Salvation Army, who came together to support those affected by this fire”
Through the generosity of 100 donors, the community and beyond, The Salvation Army helped rebuild the lives of Delair Court’s fire survivors.
“Our community is known as one of the most generous in Canada—a reality we’re reminded of in times of emergency and tragedy,” says Mayor Henry Braun. “Thank you to our neighbours and local non-profits, such as The Salvation Army, who came together to support those affected by this fire.”
By Sharifa Duncan
