Table of Contents
BRAMPTON, Ontario — Loblaw Cos. has committed $300,000 to help support relief efforts for the massive wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
(Photo credit: Jason Edmondson, YouTube)
The Canadian food and drug retailer said late Thursday that it’s providing cash donations and provisions of essential food and health supplies. In addition, in less than 24 hours, customers in stores across the country have donated more than $120,000 and 1.6 million Shoppers Optimum points to help displaced residents.
Loblaw also said it has committed to a cash donation of $150,000 to the Canadian Red Cross and, through its network of more than 2,400 stores, has mobilized a disaster relief effort to provide broad support to those in Fort McMurray.
For example, Loblaw supermarkets are providing essential food, water, and pet food to emergency shelters and to the Canadian Red Cross, as well as enabled customers to donate to the relief effort in stores. Shoppers Drug Mart is matching the donation of Shoppers Optimum points to a maximum of $25,000, and the donated points will go toward essential health and personal care products.
The company added that it will continue to work closely with the Canadian Red Cross and local government officials to get supplies to residents and support the resettlement of people displaced by the Fort McMurray wildfire.
“Our thoughts are with our colleagues, customers and those living in and around the Fort McMurray area,” Bob Chant, senior vice president of corporate affairs at Loblaw, said in a statement. “During times of tragedy, Canadians band together to support our neighbours and we are overwhelmed at our customers’ generosity so far.”
The wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on May 1 and has since spread to hundreds of thousands of acres. The fire has destroyed more than 1,500 homes and buildings and continued spread across northeast Alberta, impacting Canada’s oil sand industry. Media have reported that the fire could become the most costly disaster in Canadian history.
