Local organizations and businesses arrange relief efforts for Fort McMurray

In the wake of the tragedy that has befallen the people of Fort McMurray, a number of local agencies have stepped up to help those affected, who have lost their homes and belongings.

The following is a list of groups accepting donations or helping out via other means, in the Lloydminster area:

• For any Fort Mac residents that may make their way to Lloydminster, Brandy from the Dollar Tree is offering $25 worth of essentials to help out. Just bring your license in with proof of residency and she will be more then happy to help. Thank you and stay safe.
• Take your donations to trailer at Joyous Occasions in Lloydminster are accepting donations, particularly diapers and wipes, and feminine products. Location: 8 1812 50 Ave. Call 780-874-9119 if you need someone to come pick up your items.
• The Ramada in Cold Lake is setting up a relief centre, collecting donations in their conference room for families of Fort McMurray staying at the hotel.
• The Red Cross is accepting monetary donations. Vice-president of the Canadian Red Cross in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Jenn McManus, says financial donations are the best option, although more volunteers are always appreciated. Visit their website at: http://www.redcross.ca
• Studio Encore Dance Centre has opened their studio for families to stay. Contact number: 306-821-4051
• Relay Distributing is filling Cube Vans, with collections of water, clothing, canned/non-perishable food items, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, animal food, etc. Donations can be dropped off at Relay (6005 50th Ave.) Lowe Automotive in Macklin and Novlan Bros Sales in Paradise Hill are set up to be a drop off location for donations. Items will be picked up Thursday and Friday by Relay, brought back to Lloyd, and then the truck is heading to Edmonton on Friday, and Saturday. If you’re reside outside of town, but in our serviceable area, you can call toll free, to arrange for a free pick up. Contact numbers… Toll Free: 1-800-565-7940 / Local: 306-825-4322
• Days Hotel & Suites are providing a collection location. People who wish to donate items can bring them to the Days starting this weekend, May 7-9^th. Looking for some help, ideas, and volunteers. Contact General Manager, Sonja Cuthbert at (780) 872 4800 or via email: sonja@dayslloydminsterhotel.com
• Boundary Ford is setting up cargo trailors to fill to take up to Edmonton for the evacuees. They are accepting monetary donations, clothing, dry food goods, toiletries, blankets, towels…anything at all. The trailers will be leaving Lloydminster, Friday May 6th at 10:00 a.m.
• All Canadian Brewhouse locations in Alberta are accepting monetary donations for the Red Cross.
• Lloydminster resident, Brenda Hubley, is stopping at Barr Colony school May 5th from 3:10-3:30 pm to collect donations to give to Relay Distributing who will take them to Edmonton.
• Hot Truck is donating $1 from every order to the Red Cross.
• Holli Harty and her husband have opened their home to accommodate evacuees. The couple has empty bedrooms available as well as an 8-to-10-person camper that can be set-up in Kitscoty or a Lloydminster campsite. Contact information: [email protected] / Cell: 780-870-5741 / Alternate phone: 780-205-5008
• Shoppers Drug Mart in the Lloyd Mall is offering a program where customers with loyalty cards (Optimum Card holders) can donate points, and the company will match with a cash donation of up to $25,000. They are also accepting cash and cheque donations to the Red Cross.
• Accelerated Hotshots & Picker Service has parked a truck and trailer in Wal-Mart parking lot, May 5th, collecting donations of totoiletries, baby supplies, non-perishables, water, pillows (in bags), & blankets.
• The Hampton Inn is offering reduced rates to evacuees from Fort McMurray and area.
• Ricky’s All Day Grill in Lloydminster is offering free meals, breakfast to dinner, for Fort McMurray and area evacuees who present their ID to the server prior to ordering.
• The Lloydminster Rotary Club is teaming up with ATB Financial to accept donations to “Fort McMurray Fire Relief Fund,” where each donation will be match by a 15% donation from the bank. As well, the Rotary Club has announced that the funds from this weekend’s Lobsterfest will go to the relief fund as well. Attendees will be able to donate at the event and people are still able to purchase tickets for the event at Midwest Communications.
• Avenue Living is offering evacuees 2-3 months rent free in Lloydminster, Edmonton, Saskatoon, and Regina. Contact 1-855-247-1492 for details.
• Ken’s Auto in Dewberry is taking donations for the Fort McMurray Wildfire Victims. Feel free to drop off your items May 5th, which will be picked up on the 6th by 11:00 a.m.
• Titanium Tubing Technologies is accepting donations May 5th at the Coop grocery store in Lloyd, until 8 p.m. tonight. If you can’t make it out, pick-up is available. Contact Darren Lantz at 1-780-288-9226. The company is filling a sea-can container and doing drop offs at 8-9 different locations in the northern area, up to Watering River.
• Beautiful Smiles Photography is offering free family photo sessions for any evacuees from the Fort McMurray area taking refuge in Lloydminster, if they were unable to grab any family photos or sentimental items before fleeing.
• Local resident, Brandon VanMedteren is doing a donation collection May 6th at Sobey’s grocery store from opening to 8 p.m. Contact him at 780-861-0447 for more details
• Harvest to Home is teaming up with Border Eats this Friday, May 6th and Saturday, the 7th to help those that have evacuated from Fort McMurray. Free meals will be given to the evacuees that present ID.  Going on from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Harvest to Home, and from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Border Eats both days. You can contact the owner, Andrew, for more details at 780-808-5863.
• Spiro’s Restaurant will cover the tab of people in town who were forced to evacuate Fort McMurray and area (with proof of residency), and will give their Lloydminster friends/contacts 10% off for bringing them in. The offer includes Mother’s Day.
• Interlock Safety Inc is offering free RV camping to evacuees of Fort Mac, at the Mannville RV park (located 45 mins west of Lloyd or 1.5 hrs east of Edmonton).
• Drop off locations for donations: Marks (Work Warehouse) – 4107 80 Avenue; Warehouse Services Inc. – 5723 43 Street; Apex Industries – 6209A 50 Avenue; Holy Rosary High School – 6611 39 Street; A Bit Extreme – 501069 Range Road 14
• Offers from local businesses:
  • Reitman’s – 75% off Clothing
  • Subway (WEST END ONLY!) Free Sandwich
  • Mary Brown’s Chicken – Free Meal
  • Days Hotel & Suites – Block of Rooms Available (Comp, pet friendly no charge and hot breakfast included)
  • Marble Slab Creamery – Free Dessert
  • Soleiki Asian Fusion – Free Meal
  • Tropical Inn – Block of Rooms Available (Comp), swim and hot breakfast
  • Holiday Inn – Block of Rooms Available (Comp), pet friendly and coupons for Smitty’s Restaurant
  • Luxx Hair Lounge – Complimentary Haircut and Style
  • City of Lloydminster – Free Camp Sites and Complimentary Access to Recreational Facilities
  • Sheepskin Loft – Free Pair of “Dawgs”
  • Cleo’s, Rickis & Bootlegger – 75% Off up to 10 Items
  • A Bit Extreme – 50% Off Activties
• Thea Pander is working in collaboration with an organization able to get pet supplies into the Fort Mac area, as they take in animals left behind. She is collecting any pet supplies people can spare: food treats, leashes, kennels, toys, dishes, beds, etc. Contact: 780-872-3503
• Manager of Boardom, Jordan Cordozza, is donating $10 from each t-shirt purchase to the relief fund for Fort McMurray.
• May 6th –  Titanium Tubing Technologies is hosting a charity BBQ in the Coop grocery store parking lot. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and pop available by donation. Money will go to Fort Mac relief
• May 6th – Halliburton Group Canada hosting a charity BBQ 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., across from UFA in town, at 6101 56 St. Hamburgers, chips, and pop available by donation – proceeds going towards Fort Mac relief fund.
• Dark Hour Ink in Lloydminster (112a, 5704-44 St.) is doing “Alberta Strong” tattoos for $100 on Monday, May 16th, and all proceeds from those tattoos will go to the Fort Mac evacuees in Lloydminster and area. Doors open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. – done on walk-in basis, first come, first served.