In the wake of Fiona, these people in N.L. are stepping up to help

Two days after post-tropical storm Fiona decimated parts of southwestern Newfoundland, people and organizations across the province are stepping up to help.

Nearly 100 homes and counting have been destroyed in communities like Port aux Basques, Burgeoand Burnt Islands,andhundreds of people have been displaced.

TheLions Club in Stephenville, about a two-hour drive from Port aux Basques, is collecting money, food, bottled water, personal hygiene products, diapers, baby food, clothing and other basic supplies for people who have been displaced.

"We had a request actually come in this morning saying that the children who were displaced were asking for stuffed toys that they could hug," said Sandra Williston, a volunteer with the club.

Williston said the response to the call for donations, issued Sunday morning, has been unbelievable, and the club sent multiple loads of supplies on Sunday and Monday morningand was preparing to send more Monday afternoon.

ErleBarrett, Lions Clubs International Foundation district co-ordinator, said in addition to donations from the community, the Stephenville Lions Club isgetting an emergency funding grant to assist with relief efforts in the places impacted by the storm

'The needs are great'

Canadian Red Cross staff andvolunteers are operating an emergency shelter in Port aux Basques for displaced residents.

"The needs are great and the needs are significant," said Rhonda Kenney, Atlantic director of emergency management.

She said the primary role of the organization is to work with municipalities, including the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques, and the provincial government to help people who have been displaced, impacted or evacuated.

"Basic needs such as food, shelter, personal services, those are the areas that we also support," she said.

Kenney said since launching a national appeal on Sunday for donations to help with relief efforts, the organization has received$1.8 million. The federal government said it will match donations for at least 30 days.

She said anyone in Atlantic Canadawho has been impacted by the storm can register with the organization by calling 1-800-863-6582. She said about 600 people across Atlantic Canada have registered so far, and that number will likely grow.

Helping from afar

Ingridsierra Quiltyand Susan Anthony,friends and neighbours in the St. John's area,both volunteeredto collect emergency supplies after seeing images of the devastation in southwestern Newfoundland over the weekend.

"When we saw the pictures on Saturday to Sunday night, like, we had to do something," Quilty said.

Anthonysaid they spread the word through social media.

"Really quickly a lot of people came together and really wanted to help," she said.

Anthony said she's been in contact with Burgeo-La PoileMHA Andrew Parsons and the Port aux Basques Lions Club about distributing the supplies to the communities hit hardest by post-tropical storm Fiona.

Anthony said the group is collecting supplies to meet the most pressing needs of people impacted by the storm. Thegroup is collecting clothingfor all ages and genders, including warm clothes for the upcoming winter.

"You kind of have to look forward to the immediate future and then the next week or two as it comes," she said.

Anthony said the effort has grown exponentially as more volunteers and companies offered help.

Joel Hickey, manager of Qikiqtaaluk Fisheries Corporation, offeredto help storethesupplies in his company's warehouse.

"The response so far today has been awesome," he said.

Hickey contacted Freightway International operations manager David Andrews, who arranged a 53-foot trailer to carry supplies to southwestern Newfoundland

Andrews said his company uses trucks that travel through Port aux Basques every day.

"Every time that the truckers are in need, Port aux Basques is there to help, so it's our time to turn around and give it back to the community," he said.

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