The Canadian Red Cross is providing an additional $500 in one-time financial assistance to households affected by the recent wildfires in Jasper.
The aid is available to individuals who registered with the Red Cross following the evacuation and whose primary residence is in Jasper. The financial support is intended to help residents address ongoing needs such as food, transportation, and clean-up supplies as they begin returning home or continue dealing with the aftermath.
“We know the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in Jasper are immense, and recovery will take time,” said Amy Avis, chief of emergencies for the Canadian Red Cross.
“The additional financial assistance of $500 per household will help people meet their ongoing needs as they begin their next steps in recovery. The distribution of these funds has already started, and people impacted by the wildfires do not need to be in Jasper to receive this assistance.”
Avis also said that the one-time $500 assistance is being automatically distributed to eligible households that have already registered with the Canadian Red Cross and that there is no need for residents to register again to receive the financial help.
At the same time, the Canadian Red Cross has called on people who were living in Jasper during the onslaught of the wildfire but have not registered yet to 1-800-863-6582 between 8am and 8pm MT, to process their registration.
The organization also emphasized that it communicates with wildfire victims via email, phone, or in person, and does not send links through text messages for registration or financial aid.
Additionally, the Red Cross said it will never request banking information, social insurance numbers, or credit card details during the registration process or to distribute assistance.
To support the ongoing relief efforts, donations to the 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal can be made online at redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111. The Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada have pledged to match all individual donations made by Canadians to the appeal between July 25 and August 24, 2024.
Funds raised will be used to provide immediate and long-term relief to those impacted in Jasper and other affected areas across Alberta. This includes financial assistance, support for evacuees and host communities, and efforts to bolster recovery and resilience in response to the wildfires.
Additionally, donations will aid in community preparedness and risk reduction for future disaster events in Alberta.
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