Nearly 1 year later, the Red Cross still helping those hit hardest by 2017 B.C. wildfires

Nearly a year after the worst wildfire season on record in B.C., the Canadian Red Cross is still helping some of those who were hit hardest.

The organization has spent or committed $119.3 million, or about 74 per cent, of the $162.2 million in the B.C. Fires Appeal Fund, according to numbers released on Tuesday,

Below is a summary of the Red Cross’s full financial one-year donor update.

• $62.1 million of the allocated $90 million to support individuals and families
• $15.5 million of the allocated $29.1 million to support community groups
• $40.5 million of the allocated $41.9 million for eligible small business, not for profits and First Nations cultural livelihoods

The Red Cross said it will take years for the province to recover from the most destructive wildfires in its history, which sparked a B.C.-wide state of emergency lasting more than two months and which forced about 65,000 people from their homes.

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The appeal fund is made up of money provided by the federal and provincial governments and donors from across the country.

The Red Cross said its staff are still meeting with people whose needs have not been met due to the wildfires and is encouraging those who still need help to reach out, even if for the first time.

READ MORE: Some B.C. wildfire evacuees still waiting on Red Cross financial support

“The Red Cross recognizes that recovery from a disaster can take years and individuals and businesses will be impacted in different ways,” Kimerbley Nemrava, vice-president of the Red Cross, British Columbia and Yukon chapter, said in a statement.

“Together with our partners, Red Cross continues to adapt and align our recovery programs to best support British Columbians along their road to recovery,” she added.

The Red Cross said it’s providing support such as housing repair and reconstruction assistance to people with damaged or destroyed homes and consultations to ensure people have access to mental health supports.