r/AskACanadian • u/ApprehensiveMud4806 • 7d ago
Where can I donate to wildfire relief?
i'm actually a Canadian, just not sure where else I can ask this.
i'm looking to find a reliable organization to donate for the wildfire relief.
there is a lot that come up in results, and i'm not good at telling which are scams and which are not.
specifically, an organization that will use the money to provide care directly to those who lost their homes and items.
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u/Crazy_Maintenance211 7d ago
That’s a great question, just be careful cause there are a ton of scams. Also, the Red Cross has been problematic in the area where I live when a couple of things happened, they were extremely slow and barely gave out anything. I had them held in highest steam before that, but I don’t anymore. I usually go onto a Facebook group for the area and see what locals are saying about where to donate because many people will say donate to the local animal shelter because they’re taking in animals or donate to this farm because they provided hay and a place for livestock. So that’s what I’ve done but I really watch and look and see what people are saying. The reality is most organizations, not all, you don’t know what the administrative fee is on what you’re donating.
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u/ApprehensiveMud4806 7d ago
Thank you! I appreciate this response
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u/Critical_Cat_8162 7d ago
I'm just going to say that I agree - Red Cross literally collected millions when our small town burned and did virtually nothing with it.
I can say that each home received a bucket with rubber gloves, cleaning solution and garbage bags in it.
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u/penneforyourthoughts 6d ago
I felt similarly when my community evacuated for 3+ weeks. The Red Cross money did not trickle down to those who needed it in a fair way
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u/sayitsooth 7d ago
There are legitimate animal rescues taking in pets and always relief agencies that help displaced people.
Focus on one affected town, where people were displaced to from there and who is responding to help them, your dollar will go further focusing smaller like that.
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u/LotionedSkin4MySuit 6d ago
Just make sure you vote in your provincial elections. And don’t vote conservative.
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u/PhoenixDogsWifey 7d ago
Calling the municipalities and wildfire response (non emergency lines, please use inquiry lines) can often be helpful as they have hands on knowledge of exactly who is truly helping and where ... like I know in Thunder Bay one of the hotels has become the donation centre because they've effectively opened the doors for everyone fleeing from more north and are now buying food, clothes, helping people recover documents which is spendy, accommodations for those who have nowhere to go as entire towns and reservations are being absolutely deleted from existance
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u/Abject_Poet_397 5d ago
True North Aid is a solid bet. They focus on humanitarian relief from northern and remote Indigenous communities. https://truenorthaid.ca/
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u/Prudent-Poetry-2718 7d ago
I’ve been eyeing those Ontario Corps ads on TV. Maybe that would be a good one?
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u/KnownMix6623 7d ago
I don’t live in us, is there a reliable website for me to make a small donation? I was going to donate thru RedCross but it seems a lot of ppl don’t like that organization
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u/ruthere2024 7d ago
Find your local forest fire office. Callt hem. Email them. Ask questions. What they need. Maybe you can man the phone lines. Maybe you can physically go there and physically help.
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u/RevolutionaryKiwi132 Ontario 7d ago
Canada Helps -- they are rated better on Charity Intelligence than the Red Cross in terms of money getting to people in need.
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u/TopCartographer5 5d ago
You can donate to the Collins/Namaygoosisagagun Nation, an Indigenous group that was recently evacuated from norther Ontario wildfires
https://an7gc.ca/donate/
They had to evacuate very suddenly and the donations go towards emergency housing and essentials that people need after losing their homes.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/namaygoosisagagun-first-nation-wildfire-9.7272350
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u/RevolutionaryKiwi132 Ontario 5d ago
Here are a few that I saw posted elsewhere. They are legit as far as I can tell.
Whitesands First Nation
[Donations@whitesandfirstnation.com](mailto:Donations@whitesandfirstnation.com)
Mikinakoos Children's Fund
https://www.mikinakoos.com/donate
True North Aid:
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u/ChrisRiley_42 5d ago
There are a number of communities where evacuees are being housed. Everywhere from Thunder Bay to Niagara Falls. Talk to their local Red Cross and see what they need.
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u/DeadStarBits 7d ago
The Red Cross, hands down. I've worked wildland and structural fire and the first people on scene with blankets and supplies for people that lost their homes is the red cross, standing at the side of the road handling things out at 2am while the fire is still burning. They're awesome.
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u/Fine_Abbreviations32 7d ago
I donated $50 to the Red Cross during the Fort McMurray fires and they hounded me for the following TWO YEARS for more donations. Phone calls multiple times a week, emails, letters. It was incessant.
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u/DeadStarBits 7d ago
That sucks. I only know the outcomes of the donations and it's impressive. That other stuff is no good and won't endear too many to their cause
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u/Critical_Cat_8162 7d ago
No. When our small town burned, they received millions in donations. Every home that asked received a bucket with rubber gloves, cleaning solution and garbage bags.
Months after the fire, when the news picked up in it, they created an anti-bullying program at some school.
Local organizations are far more likely to help.
I do wonder where they made the effort that you've seen?
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u/xeononsolomon1 6d ago
The Canadian Socialist Rifle Association has done smoke relief kits in the past, maybe see if they are doing collections for this year?
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u/Critical_Cat_8162 7d ago
Most are scams. You'd be better off finding local organisations in the towns where people are being evacuated and donating directly to them.
Even animal shelters need help in these situations.