OLDS — Olds Association for Community Living (OACL) has launched a fundraising campaign to cover costs not covered by insurance after two break-ins and a fire that destroyed its garage and van.
OACL, located at 5025 51st St., is one of several organizations in the community that provide services for residents with developmental disabilities.
Sharon Dietrich, the organization’s chief financial officer and human resources manager, says the organization suffered two break-ins and thefts April 5 and 16 and the fire, which occurred on April 19.
RCMP are still investigating those matters and it’s not yet known if there is any link between those three incidents.
During an interview with the Albertan, Dietrich said the organization does have insurance. But if it claimed the deductible for the two break-ins and the fire, the cost is too high for the non-profit.
So the organization is claiming the deductible for the van, but raising money to cover costs for equipment and building damage suffered during the break-ins and fire.
Dietrich said those costs include repairs, computers, broken windows and a damaged door that led to the kitchen and garage.
The building also suffered smoke damage. The smell of that smoke still lingers and will likely do so for some time to come.
As of May 3, the fundraising campaign, started a couple of weeks ago, had raised more than $7,039.
Donations have been received from local residents and businesses.
The Olds Community Chorus raised $5,254 for OACL during a concert held May 2 in the Olds First Baptist Church.
Dietrich said FortisAlberta has also indicated a desire to send a cheque to OACL.
She said the organization will likely let the campaign run for a few more weeks.
Immediately after the fire, clients and staff were unable to use the facility due to smoke damage, etc.
Fortunately, Olds Municipal Library made space available for staff to work there until at least some of the smoke dissipated.
Staff are now back working in the OACL offices, but the smoke smell still remains. Clients are thus not yet allowed back in the building.
“I think the biggest (impact of the fire) is the fact that the individuals that use the building, they come here for lunches and dances and just their social gatherings.
“They're all done in this building and they have not been able to come since the arson,” Dietrich said.
“So the ability to gather in one place has kind of been taken from them and to be able to see them every day is a boost for everyone around here.
“So it's been very difficult, not being able to see the individuals that we service, that use the building,” she said.
“The fire didn't get into the offices, but (with) the smoke damage and the smell in here, we can't allow them in until they've done all the repairs and get rid of the smell.
“We've got air purifiers going right now, and it's going to be at least another month before they can even get back into the building.”
In the aftermath of the fire, Fisher Farms, another organization in Olds that offers the same services OACL does, stepped up and allowed OACL clients to hang out in their building for lunches and socialization when the weather’s not good.
Dietrich described that as “amazing.”
“They're stepping up and helping us as best as they can,” she said.
She said a couple of weeks ago, Fisher Farms held a potluck meal that attracted about 80 OACL and Fisher Farms clientele.
“They were there for about two hours and just really enjoyed the company of each other,” Dietrich said. “It was wonderful to see.”
Dietrich said the assistance provided by Fisher Farms and the library, as well as the donations from the public and others have been one positive aspect of there thefts and fire.
Another silver lining she said is that the fundraising campaign and all that the organization has gone through recently has provided an opportunity for OACL staff and supporters to explain to the public what their organization and other similar ones in the community do.
The loss of the van really hurts because it was used several days a week to transport clients to stores and outings.
It was also used to pick up food donated at various businesses and then drop that food off at the Mountain View Food Bank.
So far, OACL staff have covered the loss of the van by utilizing their own vehicles, but they’d like to purchase another van.
Dietrich said it will have to be a used one, as the burnt one was, because as a non-profit with limited funding, they simply can’t afford a new one.
