The Olds and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a relief benefit luncheon for Fort McMurray and area businesses today (Tuesday, May 17) at the Pomeroy Inn & Suites (Centennial suite).
Lunch will be provided free, courtesy of Just Jacks, which is showing off its express lunch.
In return, it's hoped attendees will contribute to the Alberta Chamber of Commerce's Chamber Relief Trust Fund. Money collected for that fund is slated to go to the Fort McMurray and area business community to help them cope with the effects of wildfires in the area.
The fund was first utilized to support business communities hit by the 2013 floods in southern Alberta. Last week, the Alberta chamber announced it would be reviving the fund to support Fort McMurray and area businesses that had been affected by the wildfires there.
Donations from the luncheon – and others like it across Alberta which are also being held on May 17 – will be held in trust.
“It just kind of sat dormant since the floods of 2013 but they saw the need when the wildfires started in the Fort McMurray area, so they sent out an email to the community chambers and this is in support of that,” chamber executive director Barb Babiak says.
“It'll be a cash donation and the Pomeroy is providing the lunch free. So in lieu of not having to pay for lunch, we would just ask anyone who is wanting to, to donate to that fund.”
A video on the Fort McMurray situation will also be shown.
Babiak is aware of the many campaigns underway to raise money for Fort McMurray evacuees, but she believes the chamber's initiative is still worthwhile.
“I know they're getting a lot of donations, but they're going to need a lot when they get back home,” she says.
That's just one aspect of the luncheon.
It will also feature updates on O-NET, the locally-owned and operated Internet/TV/phone/fibre optic service, as well as plans for the Tour of Alberta bike tour coming to Olds Sept. 2, plus an explanation of Everything Olds and the Discover Olds committee, which supports tourism.
“A lot of people don't know about them, so the chamber tries to encourage those kinds of groups to come and share that information to get the word out,” Babiak says.
"I know they're getting a lot of donations, but they're going to need a lot when they get back home." BARB BABIAK EXECUTIVE DIRECTOROLDS AND DISTRICT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
