Credit Union in Brooks will match donations for wildfire victims

A southern Alberta credit union says it will match funds donated to help fire-stricken communities including those in Cypress County.

Brooks-based Chinook Credit Union announced Wednesday it has partnered with groups in Hilda, Empress and Wheatland county to help affected ranchers, farmers and residents with emergency funds after after devastating fires last week.

Donations directed to the Brooks and Strathmore branches should denote to which of the three areas the funds should be allocated.

Chinook will match the fundraising effort up to $5,000.

“It’s going to take years to rebuild, and a lot of this stuff is not covered by insurance,” said Debbie Ross, the CAO of Family Community Support Services in Empress. “We need to support these farmers and ranchers in any way we can. There are well over a dozen families in our communities who have lost a lot.”

Andy Kirshenma, president of Hilda Community Association, said the fires’ effects will be felt long term.

“Right now, it’s a mad rush to keep all this land from blowing away that has been exposed … with no more straw on the land, we’re starting to lose our top soil.

“This will have an effect for at a minimum the next five years.”

Scot Hadden, president of Chinook Financial, said his company is also stated in the release that the credit union is available to discuss financial planning with those affected.