The Calgary community is rallying around the family of a local man who was among the 18 Canadians killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday.
Derick Lwugi worked as an accountant for the City of Calgary and leaves behind a wife and three children.
Balwant Singh didn’t know him personally, but the A&W franchise Singh owns is raising funds for Lwugi’s family.
“Being in the community, it’s family for us,” he explained. “We know they are going through a lot of pain, at least we can stand by them and help them on the financial side.”
The restaurant, located in the community of Auburn Bay, will donate one dollar from every combo sold on Wednesday to Lwugi’s family.
WATCH: Calgary husband and father Derick Lwugi is being remembered as a leader of the local Kenyan community after he died in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 over the weekend. Michael King spoke with his family and has more.
Meanwhile, residents living in the community of Mahogany, where Lwugi lived, are collecting donations and organizing a ribbon campaign in his honour.
Kyrsten Devonshire is one of those community members and said that they have been overwhelmed by the support of the community.
“We haven’t walked to a store where a manager hasn’t said, ‘Yes how can we help?'” Devonshire said.
The group canvassed local businesses and is also accepting money through its Facebook page.
“When there’s a horrible tragedy, you feel helpless and there’s nothing you can do to ease that pain, but at least this organizes some help for the family,” Devonshire said.
A post on the Mahogany Angel Facebook page says gift cards and money will be gathered to “show the family some support now and in the future.”
Ethiopia Airlines Flight 302 went down minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa’s airport. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane plunged into a field, killing all 157 people aboard.
—With files from the Canadian Press
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