Ornaments and trees collected for Fort Mac
Christmas is one of Helga Lempriere’s favourite holidays.
Gold and silver ornaments, twinkling lights and the smell of a brand-new Christmas tree marked a time of celebration and togetherness for Helga, her husband Terry and their three small children.
But when the High River flood struck three years ago, the family lost everything.
Sifting through the wreckage of sodden teddy bears, drowned family photos and holiday decorations made unrecognizable, the family was heartbroken.
“Like 99 per cent of people, you have all your holiday stuff stashed in the basement or garage,” Terry Lempriere said. “The next thing you know, a natural disaster hits and it’s all gone.”
What saved the holiday for hundreds of families like the Lemprieres was a community outreach program that donated ornaments to High River residents following the flood.
So after the devastating wildfire that ravaged northern Alberta this year, Helga approached her husband with an idea: why not start our own Christmas outreach program for the people of Fort McMurray? “I love Christmas,” Helga said. “A lot of times Christmas is about the kids.
“The way those outreach programs helped us to have a happy holiday again without the stress of having to buy all these ornaments on top of the gifts … it has left such an impact on me.”
From his experience living through a natural disaster, Terry said the future is almost impossible to think about when you don’t even have a place to call home.
“If your house didn’t burn, the smoke damage was intensive,” Terry said.
“Damaged carpet, drywall, clothes, bedding … when you’re in that situation, trees and tinsel aren’t at the top of the list.”
And while it’s still some months away, Christmas comes quickly when you’re in the throes of rebuilding an entire home.
Donated by J&R Hall Transport, Terry and his family are hoping to fill a 53-foot tractor-trailer with new Christmas ornaments and trees to be distributed to Fort McMurray residents at the end of October.
Terry said the community outreach from churches and small businesses supporting their cause has been overwhelming, but he’s hoping to garner the support of larger businesses or corporations that can afford to buy new ornaments and trees for the thousands of people with nothing left for Christmas.
“Fort McMurray is a massive part of this province,” Terry said.
“We all know people who have worked there or businesses connected to it.
“With the fire, the following flood in Peace River and the oil crash, Fort McMurray has been kicked down too many times. They need our help.”
Because the initiative is all volunteer-based, the Lempriere family is asking for only new ornaments to be donated; with the lack of manpower and short timeframe the family is working with, it isn’t possible to sort through and package used donations.
Terry is requesting ornaments be neatly packaged ( boxes only, no shopping bags), and added that they are in need of Christmas trees (real or artificial) or tree vouchers to be donated.
A list of collection locations and drop-off dates in Calgary, Edmonton and surrounding areas can be found on the Christmas Ornaments for FT McMurray Facebook page: facebook.com/FtMacChristmas/.