Abbotsford groups raise over $3M to support those impacted by floods
A grassroots relief fund started by a trio of Abbotsford-based institutions has raised over $3 million dollars for the community as it continues to recover from last month’s devastating floods.
The Abbotsford Community Foundation, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the University of the Fraser Valley first teamed up on Nov. 17 to form what they’ve called the Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund.
“Their lives have been changed in a very dramatic way and it’s just really challenging and difficult for our community right now,” Wendy Neufeld of the Abbotsford Community Foundation told CTV News Friday.
The fund is meant to provide immediate support to families and businesses impacted by the flooding in the Sumas Prairie and also aims to provide support to other local charities involved in disaster relief efforts.
Since its inception, Neufeld said donations have been pouring in to the fund.
“We were processing some days up to a 1,000 donations in one day,” Neufeld explained.
The money was coming in from all across Canada, with some donations even being sent from other countries.
“It was quite astonishing how the campaign that we started to raise money for our community just went viral,” Neufeld said.
This past week the group even received $350,000 in donations in a single day, helping get them to their current total of over $3 million.
“When you think of the magnitude of the losses and the billions of dollars, the $3 million that we’ve raised is not going to have a huge effect on the infrastructure rebuild, but what we are hoping to do is to provide some immediate relief to charities and families,” Neufeld said.
Neufeld said there is no deadline to donate nor is there a deadline for those impacted to apply for funding as the focus is to offer help for the long haul.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.