DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - When staff at the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre saw images of the destruction forest fires wrought in Slave Lake, Alta., they wanted a way to help the affected residents.

Staff at the Zhahti Koe Friendship Centre including, from left, Rita Squirrel, Trisha Bonnetrouge, Violet Landry and Rebecca Landry, not seen, organized a donation drive for the people of Slave Lake, Alta. - photo courtesy of Trisha Bonnetrouge

"It was shocking for everyone," said Trisha Bonnetrouge, the executive assistant at the centre.

On May 16, the day after the fire swept through Slave Lake, Bonnetrouge along with Rita Squirrel, Violet Landry and Rebecca Landry came up with the idea to hold a donation drive. They put posters up around Fort Providence and put an announcement on the local radio station.

By that afternoon residents started dropping off donations.

"We were really pleased and surprised. From the small community they donated so much," Bonnetrouge said.

Although Fort Providence doesn't have any close ties to Slave Lake, a steady stream of people brought items to the centre. Many commented on what a great idea it was, she said. Even a neighbouring community joined the effort.

After receiving a phone call from the centre, Ruby Landry, a resident of Kakisa, spread the word around her community.

Baby clothes

Landry went through her own closet and collected some baby clothes from her daughter Rolanda Landry. Between the two of them they gathered three bags and a box of donations that the centre picked up.

Landry said she put herself in the shoes of the Slave Lake residents and thought about what would happen if a similar disaster struck Kakisa.

"My heart goes out to them," she said.

"Here in Kakisa we could be wiped out. It could happen to anybody."

Landry said she was happy to have the chance to help Slave Lake.

With donations from both Kakisa and Fort Providence, the centre gathered approximately 20 garbage bags of clothes and 10 boxes of other items including toys, shoes, toiletries, blankets and pillows by Friday afternoon. Grimshaw Trucking LP donated the resources to deliver the donations to shelters housing evacuated residents of Slave Lake in Athabasca, Alta.

Among the donations were some clothes, toys and shoes that Bonnetrouge donated herself.

"A small amount makes a big difference so it made me feel really good to help others."

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