'It's been emotional': Evacuees get taste of home in Brandon with bannock, soup

It's been more than a week since the the first people forced from their homes in Manitoba's Island Lake area arrived in Brandon. Some are still feeling lost, while others are starting to settle in their temporary homes.

The Brandon Friendship Centre, abuzz with smiles and laughter on Wednesday, tried to give people a taste of homeas it hosted the first of two lunches for evacuees.

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Along with bannock and homemade soup, about a dozen tables were set up withclothing and toy donations. Baking, fruit and breads were also givento people to take back to their temporary homes as they left.

"It's been emotional," said Susan Fiddler, who arrived with three of her kids from WasagamackFirst Nation. The entire community, 470 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg,was evacuated more than a week ago due to a nearby wildfire.

In total, around 4,200 people were forced from their homes in the Wasagamack, St. Theresa Point and Garden Hill First Nations and taken to Brandon and Winnipeg.

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Fiddler's oldestson is in Winnipeg and she hopes the Red Cross can bring him to Brandon soon.

Despite the uncertainty, she's trying to remain positive.

"I'm just waiting. My kids have a place to stay, they have food," she saidwhile sorting through a pile of clothes. "I try not to complain so much."

Still, seeing false rumourson Facebook that evacuation orders may be lifted soon has been frustrating, she said.

Family moved to Brandon

At another table nearby, Mary Jane Knott from St. Theresa Point sorted through clothes for her two kids. Knott and her family spent a night at the convention centre in Winnipeg before being moved to Brandon.

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"It was horrible," she said of her night at the convention centre, adding that she'sgrateful to now have comfortable beds for her and her family. "Someone kept pulling the fire alarm."

Knott said while the Red Cross has been providing enough food and some items like soap and toothpaste, she's still had to spend some of her own money on supplies and clothing for her family. She said she knows of other families who are having a harder time getting by.

Adjustment has been stressful, evacuee says

Another evacuee, Deborah McDougall, said her family of seven has haddifficulty adjusting to the city.

"It's really stressful," she said, adding that her kids have been staying in their west Brandon hotel room. "They have no place to play,"and it's difficult for evacueesto get around the city, she said.

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On Wednesday, her kids spent some timeplaying outside the Friendship Centre after eating lunch.

"It was good," she said of the lunch. "Tastes just like what we cook up there [at home]."

Friendship Centre overwhelmed

Jason Gobeil, a board member with the Brandon Friendship Centre, said the centre's staff felt that they needed to do something for their newneighbours from the north.

"If there's one thing we can share, we can share our humbleness together," he said.

Gobeil said the centre has been overwhelmed with the donations brought in by the community. He said volunteers arrived early on Wednesday to begin cooking the meal and preparing the hall.

"People are missing home," he saidafter talking with evacuees. "It's just nice to see that as unfortunate as things have been, that we're still seeing some smiles."

Meanwhile, Fiddler said she'd rather thinkof what she does have thanwhat she left behind.

"We should all look to the bright side," she said. "Our children are safe, our families are together."

The Friendship Centre is hosting another lunch for evacuees on Friday.