Donations still needed for Fort McMurray evacuees

Melita Ellsworth thanks God for the man who rammed the Abasand gate.

"All I could think of was 'We've got to get out.' Thankfully somebody rammed the security gate of what used to be an old emergency gate out of Abasands, and that's how we got out," Ellsworth said.

"I'm afraid to think of what would've happened because the traffic leaving our little community was so gridlocked.

"By the time we got to the bottom of the hill, our entire neighbourhood was fully engulfed."

Now,two weeks removed from fire, Ellsworth is thanking God for the peoplehelping her get through this difficult time.

"I'm blown away by how giving people are. They don't know us, most have no clue exactly what we are feeling but to be able to walk into a place and you think 'I need a pair of shoes, I left in flip-flops,'" she explained.

"It's been amazing, no words can express."

Ellsworthlost her home in the blaze and wasn't able to bring much with her so she has nothing right now.

On Saturday, she found herself in the parking lot of the Parkland Church in Spruce Grove receiving daily necessities to help her get by.

The event was just one of many going on in Alberta this weekend to help the Fort McMurray evacuees.

This one was put on by Reach Beyond, a charity that came all the way from Toronto to help evacuees.The turn out was so muchthatthe charity eventually ran out of thegrocery cards they were giving out.

Organizer Peter Campbell said they didn't expect this many people.

"On a cold, wet day there is obviously a lot of people that are still in need and we're just happy to help," Campbell said.

But, he added, getting so many evacuees in one place does have its benefits.

"There was a comment from somebody that said 'This is great because I got to see so many friends from Fort McMurray that I haven't seen for so long,' that was wonderful to hear," said Campbell.

Going home

After weeks of not knowing the evacuees finally have a timeline of when they can go home.

Not all evacueeswill be able to returnas soon as possible.

Ellsworth, because of health issues, thinks it will be some time before she makes her way north. She saysthat uncertainty makes the situation that much harder.

"For some it won't be until July that we go home, so every little bit helps. It might be an encouraging word, it might be a can of soup, it could even be a roll of paper towel," said Ellsworth.

"All of that is a blessing to us and a lot of people don't realize how much that means to us."