'Only so much one town can do': Fort McMurray volunteers send last truck of wildfire aid to B.C.

Although a group of Fort McMurray volunteers have sentan estimated $500,000 in donations toBritish Columbia wildfire victims, their fifth truckload of aid marksbittersweet milestone.

"I firmly believe that when this last truck leaves I will be bawling my eyes out with happiness," Fort McMurray volunteer Stephanie Klaamas said Monday. "The sad part is this is it for us, but this fire is still going to go on for a long time. They are still enduring this tragedy."

• 'Kamloops loves Fort Mac': B.C. wildfire evacuees grateful for donations
• Fort McMurray sends truckloads of donations to B.C. wildfire victims despite calls to wait

Klaamassaid she wished FortMcMurraycould keep sending truckloads of help but added"there's only so much one town can do considering we are recovering from our own tragedy."

Klaamasand the other volunteersbegan collecting donations 12 days ago after a B.C. wildfire victim solicited advice from FortMcMurrayresidents who underwent a similar wildfire ordeal more than ayear ago.

ThenKlaamasteamed up with local volunteer firefighter Marty Frost to help lead the relief effort.

"I thought, 'I am taking action nowI can't wait,' "Klaamassaid. "I remember what it was like for our town when help trickled in."

Klaamasthen got the word outon social media to solicit donations. "Pretty much begging and groveling,"shesaid. "And I didn't have to do that for so long because the town was so supportive."

'Makes me proud to be Canadian'

She said she's proud to see so many communities doing similar donation drives.

"It humbles me and makes me proud to be Canadian," she said.

Troy Sheridan drove one shipment to B.C. from Fort McMurray because he said he felt like he needed to give back.

He said it's hard for him to describe,but ever since the Fort McMurray wildfirehe has felt that something was missing in his life.

Sheridan saidbeing on the ground in B.C. and volunteering his time restored what he lost in a way that making a cash donation probably could not.

"Whatever got broken in me," Sheridan said holding back tears, "This has brought it back."

Follow David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitteror contact him viaemail.