Samaritan's Purse sends Disaster Relief Unit to Saskatchewan to assist flood victims

Recruiting volunteers to help with flood recovery; also monitoring high water levels in Manitoba

CALGARY, July 7, 2014 /CNW/ - Samaritan's Purse Canada has sent one of its specially-equipped Disaster Relief Units to Melville, Saskatchewan, and is recruiting volunteers to clean up homes in the town and in nearby Yorkton in response to flooding that has damaged about 500 homes in the region.

The Christian relief and development organization has driven its Calgary-based Disaster Relief Unit to Melville and is meeting with homeowners there and in Yorkton, Crooked Lake, Neudorf, Round Lake, and the Regional Municipality of Cana, while simultaneously recruiting and training volunteers.

"People in these communities are struggling," said Darren Tosh, Samaritan's Purse Canada's projects director. "We've been monitoring the situation to gather information about the damage, and we are in contact with churches and other non-government partners in the area to provide a coordinated response."

The Disaster Relief Unit is a tractor trailer outfitted with essential disaster recovery equipment including generators, pumps, hand tools, and safety gear for volunteers. It also serves as a volunteer coordination center, and is equipped with a self-contained office, communications system, and other supplies. Anyone in the Melville-Yorkton region needing assistance or wanting to volunteer can call 1-866-628-6565.

Premier Wall thanks Samaritan's Purse
"We want to thank Samaritan's Purse Canada for their aid during this unprecedented flood in southeastern Saskatchewan," said Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. "Organizations like yours make a real difference to people who desperately need help." 

Samaritan's Purse, which has other Disaster Relief Units based in New Brunswick and in southern Ontario, is monitoring water levels in Manitoba to determine if it will need to initiate a flood response there, too.

In recent years, the non-profit organization has responded to a wide variety of natural disasters including massive flooding last June in southern Alberta, plus flooding in New Brunswick, Quebec, and British Columbia, forest fires in Slave Lake, AB, and a tornado in Ontario. Samaritan's Purse's "sister" organization, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada, often helps by providing specially trained chaplains to comfort and pray with disaster victims. Its Rapid Response Team chaplains will be in the Melville-Yorkton region.

Samaritan's Purse also responds to international disasters including the enormous earthquake in Haiti in 2010, the devastating earthquake/tsunami in Japan in 2011, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in 2013. The Calgary-based charity is continuing to assist in Haiti and the Philippines.

Donations Needed
To support Samaritan's Purse's disaster relief efforts, please visit SamaritansPurse.ca (click on "Donate") or call 1-800-663-6500.

About Samaritan's Purse Canada
Samaritan's Purse Canada is an international Christian relief and development organization that aids victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The Calgary-based charity also operates Operation Christmas Child, which sends gift-filled shoeboxes to hurting children worldwide. Visit SamaritansPurse.ca to learn more.

SOURCE: Samaritan's Purse Canada

Media Inquiries: Jeff Adams, Communications Director, Samaritan's Purse Canada, 1-800-663-6500 #8723 (office) or 403-615-8747 (mobile) or [email protected]