Elk Point Family Lost Everything in a Fire, Organizes Massive Donation Drive for Fort Mac

It was Kali Cousin’s graduating year her family home, in Elk Point, burned down in 2002. Kali recalls it was in the middle of the night, her family lucky enough to wake in time to get out, wasn’t able to take anything with them. It’s the memory of that horrific night, standing in her pajamas, as all of her worldly possession were lost, that drove Kali, and her family, to take action to help those who have lost their homes, and have been displaced from the Fort McMurray wildfire.

“The biggest reason I wanted to get involved, is we went through it,” Kali explains it was the community who helped her family rebuild, starting with those immediate donations, “we didn’t have time to grab anything. We understand the people who had to leave right from work and didn’t have time to go home to get anything and now they have absolutely nothing. The way the community, friends and family, stepped up for us, when we loss our home was absolutely unbelievable and it makes the world of difference.”

“When we heard that they were evacuating absolutely everybody, my dad and I were talking and he said, ‘we need to do something, just the four of us,'” Kali’s says the idea sparked from her dad, Dave. He suggested their immediate family, himself, wife, Gillian, Kali and her brother Jordan, put together some items and maybe purchase a few things and get it to the people in need. Kali took to Facebook, “I posted that if anybody wanted to donate anything I could pick it up or they could e-transfer money if they wanted; whatever they wanted to do.”

After a few people sent money and items from that post, Kali decided to roll with it and make it even bigger.  “I checked with my parents to see if I could borrow their garage at their house,” Kali laughs at how fast the donations started coming in. Kali even set up with ATB Financial, in Elk Point, a special drop-off location at their branch, “in case people didn’t know where my parent’s house is.” Being a small town many did know and it wasn’t long before her parent’s garage was packed with donations, “they didn’t even have a floor left.”

“I tried to get the word out, as best possible, and it just snowballed!” Kali recognized that monetary donations may not be possible for all, this way people can still contribute and help. With that came the need to sort, organize and if need be, clean. Kali and her family held a two-day organizing party in the garage after the majority of the donations came in, to make sure they were of good quality before taking them up to the donation center in Boyle. Basic rule of thumb Kali gives is, “think if this happened to you, would you use that item or would you wear those clothes? If it’s old and broken and very out of style and maybe has holes in it, you probably would use or wear it; so don’t donate it.” For the most part all donations were able to be transferred onto the Boyle donation centre.

Trailer of donations from Elk Point

Boyle Donation Center

Boyle Donation Center

Boyle Donation Center

Boyle Donation Center

Kali, her parents and brother Jordan took the donations to the Boyle Royal Arena in a trailer hauled by her dad’s pickup. Kali describes the donation center, “it was organized so well, everything was in sections. There’s so many people coming through because it’s right off Highway 63.” Kali’s family arrived with the donations at 9:00 am and stayed long after they unloaded, 1:00 pm, to take with the volunteers, the people picking up goods, and to help where they were needed. “There was a little girl, who lost her favourite plaid shirt,” Kali says it was like Christmas morning times a thousand when the girl’s mom found some new shirts for her, “she was hugging them, smiling, it was so emotional.” It’s those simple things that helped one little girl smile, that Kali is happy to be a part of.

The Boyle donation center has everything for people who need, it’s organized like a supermarket with different sections for different needs. Evacuees are welcome to come and get what they need and if they don’t find what they need, volunteers will send a call out to donation drives, like Kali’s, to find those items. Some items in need are school supplies, kids weren’t able to take those items with them. Some items include scientific calculators, math kits, binders, pencils, crayons, and typical items on a back-to-school shopping list.

This was one way I knew I could help, I could donate my time and organize it. My family was amazing and they jumped on board immediately, and it just grew! – Kali Cousins

“If they need more, we’re not done,” Kali says her family is willing to do another drive if they get called upon to do so. “We want to help out, as much as possible.” Kali sends a special thanks to ATB and Knotty Boyz in Elk Point for their involvement in the donation drive; as well as, all the amazing neighbours, friends, and community members who helped make it all possible.