The Canadian Red Cross will have $30,000 added to the BC Wildfire relief fund thanks to generous donations from Otter Co-op shoppers throughout the Lower Mainland and Okanagan, which were then matched by the 91原创 store.

Federated Co-operatives Limited in Saskatoon quickly stepped up to match Otter Co-op鈥檚 donation.

鈥淥tter Co-op is committed to our value of community 鈥� we care about people, and supporting the communities in which we live, work and play,鈥� said CEO Jack Nicholson.

鈥淥ur members and guests have been extremely generous in their donations towards this very worthy cause, and our board of directors immediately stepped up to match donations up to $10,000 to support the ongoing efforts of the Red Cross, assisting those in need from the forest fires,鈥� said Nicholson.

鈥淥tter Co-op is collecting cash donations at all Otter sites located throughout the Lower Mainland, as well as our sites in Penticton and Armstrong, as many of our team and guests have family or friends directly affected by the fires and we want to help鈥� he said.

鈥淥ur Feed Division has also assisted the animals affected by the fires with donations of feed and supplies in the amount of $5,000, being distributed through our network of feed dealers in the Interior.鈥�

In early July, Otter Co-op started taking donations at the cash register at its Aldergrove shopping centre, gas bar and at its retail locations in Pitt Meadows, as well as gas bars in Ladner, Surrey, 91原创, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hatzic.

The Federated Co-op matched local donations.

鈥淔ederated Co-op has a donation matching plan in place to work with local Co-ops and their fundraising efforts,鈥� said Dave Dyck, Associate Vice President, Federated Co-op Ltd of the Calgary Region.

鈥淲e will be matching the Otter Co-op鈥檚 donation of $10,000, bringing the total donation to the Red Cross to $30,000 鈥� with all of these funds going directly to the BC wildfire efforts. In total, Federated Co-op has committed $1 million over five years to the Canadian Red Cross in support of their Disaster Management Program across Western Canada.鈥�

The Canadian Red Cross helps vulnerable communities in Canada and around the world affected by emergencies and disasters 鈥� situations ranging from individual house fires to floods that disrupt entire regions.

Following a disaster in Canada, Red Cross workers provide vital assistance for people鈥檚 basic needs including shelter, family reunification assistance, finding support, first aid, information, clothing and food. They work in partnership with first responders, emergency managers and public officials to support their response activities.