By The Canadian Press / itemized details from the Canadian Red Cross

Red Cross – three-quarters of $323M raised for Fort McMurray spent or committed

Apr 24, 2017 | 12:25 PM

FORT MCMURRAY –   The Canadian Red Cross says three-quarters of the $323 million raised since a massive wildfire struck Fort McMurray has been spent or committed.

The fire, nicknamed “the beast” because it was so fierce and unpredictable, forced 88,000 to flee the northeastern Alberta city and destroyed about 10 per cent of its structures.
 
A Red Cross news release outlined the financial breakdown as follows:

— $231 million allocated; ($183 million spent and committed to date) to support individuals and families.

— Nearly 65,000 families registered to receive support from the Red Cross.
— More than 126,400 electronic fund transfers provided direct financial assistance to help residents pay for things like rent, mortgage, utilities, household goods, food, gas and clothing.
— More than 19,000 one-on-one confidential appointments have helped assist people through their personal recovery process.

— $50 million allocated; ($24 million spent and committed to date) to support community groups and initiatives.

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— 54 partnerships with community organizations are being funded to provide holistic, community-driven recovery activities. This includes a variety of projects and initiatives such as special events for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and Indigenous communities, supplying teachers and students with back-to-school items, providing summer and recreation camps for children and youth, providing support to local food banks and the local homeless shelter, supporting community-led wellness groups, and supporting several community celebrations upon returning home.

— $30 million allocated; ($28.5 million spent and committed to date) to support eligible small businesses.

— More than 3,200 eligible small businesses received financial assistance to help cover costs such as the replacement of essential items including business tools and equipment; assistance with clean-up expenses; moving or storage; professional cleaning; small repairs; help with overdue utility bills; lease payments; and, short-term lease of business equipment or vehicles.

The allocations reflect the needs which have been identified as of April 13, 2017.

The charity raised $189 million in donations on its own, bolstered by $104 million in matching funds from Ottawa and $30 million from the Alberta government.

Conrad Sauve, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross, says the wildfire was a defining moment for the organization.