Sarnia-Lambton residents looking to help the Australia bushfire relief effort can do so through The Salvation Army.
Officials say the massive wildfires, which began in September, have claimed 24 lives and destroyed nearly 2,000 homes, and the Insurance Council of Australia says the estimated damage bill has already reached $700 million.
Salvation Army spokesperson Shannon Wise said your monetary donation will go a long way.
"With the money for our relief efforts, The Salvation Army provides food, water to firefighters, evacuees, as well as practical and emotional and spiritual care, so giving a lot of support to those who are in need right now," she said.
Wise said the reason why it is so important to give is because people in Australia need immediate help.
"So it gives people a little bit of hope, something to look forward to, something to move forward with one step at a time. I mean, some of these people have lost everything and it's devastating, so whatever The Salvation Army can do to support them, we do," she said. "So it is great to get those donations into SalvationArmy.ca, and we have boots on the ground ready to help."
Wise said it was back in 1917 following the Halifax Explosion when The Salvation Army first began helping those in emergency situations.
"When The Salvation Army comes in to assist, we're going to help give hope today and we're also going to help provide food, water, those basic essential needs to those who have been displaced from their homes and for those crews, the firefighters that are working tirelessly around the clock," she said.
Anyone wishing to give a monetary donation at the Sarnia Salvation Army on Confederation Street is asked to reference the Australia Bushfire Relief on their donation.
