LETHBRIDGE – Devastation and heartbreak continue to be felt for the victims of the Fort McMurray wildfires and the more than 80,000 people displaced from their homes.
One Lethbridge woman was on her way back from Okotoks, Alta. after buying herself a Mother’s Day gift, when she saw the devastation on social media and immediately thought of the moms who will miss Mother’s Day.
“I just thought these people have nothing and we’re driving hours to go pick up a Mother’s Day gift for myself,” organizer Lisa Braun said. “I thought there’s so many of these moms that don’t have that opportunity – they have no homes, they can’t do a get-together… they can’t even cook a meal.”
Braun contacted florists in the area, including Iris Krosse in Fort Macleod, to see if they could support her plan to bring as many flowers as possible to the moms in the evacuation centres across the province.”
“Flowers mean happiness,” Krosse said. “When someone’s in the hospital, what do you do? You bring them a flower.”
“If someone is having a bad day you bring them a flower. It’s the symbol that comes along with it that will really make an impact.”
Flowers on 9th in Lethbridge, Alta. has offered to donate a number of flowers to the cause as well.
“This flower store has been well supported in our community and I think we are part of a bigger community in Alberta and we can help out elsewhere,” store owner Sharron Ulrich said.
The group will be collecting donations at the following locations:
- Canadian Tire South
North-West end of parking lot
Friday, May 6: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 7: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Lethbridge drop off & contact
Lisa Braun 403-360-3557
lp.braun@hotmail.com - Fort Macleod drop off & contact
Sinkel Floral Designs
Iris Krosse: 403-553-4655
The group will be contacting the Red Cross to ensure they are allowed in the evacuation centres before they head up on Sunday in hopes of getting as many flowers to as many moms as possible.
Comments