"I'm just trying to give those people a little bit of peace of mind with some free food and water and dog food and toiletries – whatever I can, really." JORDON RHUDE-OLDS RESIDENT
An Olds resident is collecting non-perishable food, water and other items for victims of the Fort McMurray wildfire.
Jordon Rhude, 21, works for a company north of Fort McMurray – near Fort MacKay, but he says he goes into the fire-stricken community many times because he has friends there.
At about noon on Wednesday, Rhude walked into Walmart and got permission from a Walmart compliance manager to set up his truck in the southeast part of the Olds store’s parking lot.
By mid afternoon Wednesday, his truck box was already full and food and other donations were stacked around it.
"She did it right away once she heard the reason why I’m here," he told the Olds Albertan.
Rhude told a reporter and photographer he planned to fill up a bus he owns if donations continue to be good.
Rhude says he feels for Fort McMurray residents, many of whom lost everything when a giant wildfire blew into town on Tuesday, fuelled by high winds and hot weather. It destroyed hundreds of houses and trailers and even spread into the downtown area.
At least 80,000 people were evacuated from the city and surrounding area Tuesday and Wednesday.
"It’s rather heart-breaking to see that they found out that they have lost everything. They’ve lost their trucks. Some people have lost their animals – their cats and dogs that were locked in their house if they were away on vacation," Rhude said.
"I’m just trying to give those people a little bit of peace of mind with some free food and water and dog food and toiletries – whatever I can, really."
"Some people are unable to make it here so I’m actually willing to go drive to their house and pick up whatever I can."
Rhude spent about $200 of his own money to buy about 20 cases of water as well as snacks and other non-perishable food.
One woman donated towels, blankets and pillows; then took off to go buy more food as well.
"This is almost a personal thing," Rhude said. "I’m not anything special. I’m not Red Cross, I’m not planning on donating this to Red Cross. I’m taking this up there myself and giving it to people who need it by myself."
Shelley Vekved, a compliance manager at the Olds Walmart, gave Rhude the permission to park his truck on the company’s lot and to solicit donations after she checked with head office staff.
"He’s not asking for money. If people are donating, that’s their choice. I cannot authorize him to collect cash at the door," Vekved said. "So we have given him that space at the far end of our lot to take donations because he needed a gathering spot."
Vekved is impressed with Rhude’s decision.
"I think it’s great," I think it’s for a good cause," she said.
Vekved said Walmart didn’t provide Rhude with any donations because he didn’t ask for any.
"I think what he’s doing is very humanitarian," she said.
