The Olds and District Chamber of Commerce (ODCC) raised just over $2,000 for Fort McMurray businesses affected by the wildfires during a luncheon last week.
Food for the luncheon, provided Tuesday in the Pomeroy Inn & Suites was free, but the 51 people attending were asked to make a donation to the Alberta Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Relief Trust Fund.
Officials say money collected from that fund will go to businesses in Fort McMurray and area affected by the fires there.
ODCC president and Pomeroy Inn & Suites general manager Stephen Dodwell was thrilled and amazed by the amount of money raised.
“It's an incredible thing. That's 50-odd people at lunchtime coming out and there were some huge donations. It was just wonderful,” he said.
“It actually was around $2,000 and one lady said, ‘no, here's a dollar – we've got to make it just over two thousand.'”
"It's an incredible thing. That's 50-odd people at lunchtime coming out and there were some huge donations. It was just wonderful." STEPHEN DODWELLPRESIDENT OLDS AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE