SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - After receiving a steady stream of donations, from canned food and tools to children's bicycles and kitty litter, Grimshaw Trucking has stopped accepting goods to transport down to Slave Lake - at least for the time being.

"The Red Cross phoned," said Darren Garuik, terminal manager at Grimshaw Trucking in Yellowknife.

"They're overwhelmed."

The company was told that until Slave Lake residents move out of the shelters and back into their old homes, or at least temporary ones, there's no longer a need for donated goods.

Garuik said Grimshaw Trucking's decision to start collecting and delivering goods was spurred by a concerned citizen who called and asked if they were available to make shipments.

Their response: "Yes, let's do it."

"Yellowknife has always been amazing at donations," he said, adding, "It's nice to see we're helping people."

Since the company has a terminal in Slave Lake, they also have employees who lost homes to the fire, which Garuik said motivates them even more to do what they can to help.

Altogether, the company has collected a semi-trailer full of goods, including tools for rebuilding, pet food, new toys, food and lots of clothes.

They had to turn back people who came with fridges and stoves, and even one woman who had a grand piano to donate and now, they're turning back everyone until they get the green light that more supplies are needed.

The story is the same in Athabasca, a town 130 km southeast of Slave Lake that has served as a hub for relief efforts, according to Rotary Club of Yellowknife president Craig Hockridge.

"Basically, what it boils down to is hold off on things for now and continue to stockpile," he said.

Since the fire hit on May 15, the Rotary Club has been coordinating with other clubs in northern Alberta to see what they can do to help.

For now, he said, all they can do is accept monetary donations, which they will direct to relief efforts once they know where it's needed most.

Nine evacuation centres have been set up in Edmonton, Westlock, Smith and Athabasca to house the town's 7,000 residents, although some have gone elsewhere to stay with friends and family.

Randie Anderson, a public affairs volunteer with the Red Cross, said the response from Canadians willing to help in any way they can has been tremendous.

"There's such a need right now. Everyone is willing to step up," she said. In addition to the $600,000 the organization has received to date in donations, more than 2,400 hours have been logged by 200 volunteers working in the province.

Although Slave Lake residents still aren't allowed to return home, on Monday provincial officials planned to take 250 Slave Lake residents on a bus tour through the town to assess the damage.

The fire, which is still burning in parts of the province, badly damaged or destroyed nearly 500 homes and businesses and reduced a third of the town to ash.

To make a donation to help residents of Slave Lake, visit www.redcross.ca or call 1-800-481-1111.

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