GoFundMe raising money for Sarnia
Americans donating to online campaign to help cleanup after U.S. rafter rescue
An online campaign to help pay for Sarnia’s emergency rescue and cleanup costs has been launched after hundreds of Americans landed in the city on Aug. 21.
The Americans were taking part in the Port Huron Float Down, an unsanctioned, annual event where participants float down the St. Clair River that divides Michigan and Ontario.
On Sunday, about1,500 rafters were blown by high winds to Sarnia, where city employees and first responders sprang into action to help them get home.
The city of Sarnia calculated the total cost of the rescue and cleanup at $8,181.77.
It prompted Marysville, Mich., resident Joe Wiedenbeck to start a gofundme campaign — which he called “How’s She Going Eh?”
“I really wasn’t trying to raise any money but hey, I guess we love our Canadian neighbours,” Wiedenbeck, 41, told the Star.
“I didn’t think I’d get one cent . . . I created it purely out of sarcasm.”
In its first 24 hours the campaign has raised $2,282 (U.S.) of its $9,000 goal.
Donors online praised the friendly rescue on the campaign site and the relationship between the cities that sit across the river from each other.
“Canada! Our best friends! So happy to have you up north,” wrote Jay Keller, who donated $20.
“I would like to see Sarnia and Port Huron do a float down together,” wrote Daniel Harding.
The Sarnia Police Service spent $3,405.92 on the rescue mission, while Sarnia Transit transported U.S. citizens back over the border at a cost of $1,977.97. The public works department closed and manned streets for $712.40, fire and rescue services spent $1,435.99 getting people from the water and parks staff cleaned up the aftermath for $649.60.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said the Port Huron Float Down fiasco has turned into “almost a bonding experience between Canadians and Americans.”
“I always like to say that you will never need a passport to the heart of a Canadian.”
MIKE BRADLEY
SARNIA MAYOR
The mayor added he’d noticed interaction between the border cities diminish greatly following Sept. 11, 2001, but that the campaign was an example of the “wonderful way we’re still friends (with) a friendly border.”
“I always like to say that you will never need a passport to the heart of a Canadian,” Bradley said. He believes this episode proves the relationship between both countries is strong. “We may not like each other’s governments on occasion, but we do like each other as people. That’s what this is about.”
As for the gofundme campaign, Wiedenbeck said he will let it collect money for a few more days before donating the funds to Sarnia.
“It’s been nice to see people contribute $5, $10, $25,” he said.