Earlier this week, someone told me that someone had told them that the fundraising for the Cache Creek flood victims was done. Finished. She asked me if that was true.
I said absolutely not true. Funny what people get into their heads.
She said she didn’t think it was true. In fact, she told the person that Cache Creek would be fundraising forEVER.
I had to agree. The current fundraising tally of $115,691 is far from the $500,000 needed by the people impacted by the flooding. It’s a great start, but if you’ve ever replaced a major appliance, flooring, furniture, hot water tank, etc., then you’ll know it’s not cheap.
No one’s insurance covers flood, and the province’s Disaster Financial Assistance only covers 80 per cent of some of the damage for those who are eligible. And so far, almost a dozen flood victims have been denied DFA.
Even for those who receive it, DFA only covers 80 per cent of the necessities. It won’t pay for cleaning up the yard; it won’t help with things like the garage, the tools, the guest bed, and the many other unessential things we have.
Fundraising is essential for them and will continue for the foreseeable future.
The individuals, associations and companies who have donated to the flood relief fund are amazing. Fundraisers continue to raise money for the people who need it.
If you’ve donated, thank you but don’t let that stop you from donating again if you can afford it.
It isn’t just for the people who lost their homes: it’s also for the people who lost possessions when their basements flooded, who have to replace hot water tanks and furnaces, porches, children’s toys, flooring and walls, topsoil, carpets and all the odds and ends that the rest of us take for granted.
It’s going to be a long time before things are back to normal in Cache Creek. Life goes on, but for some it will never be the same. We can help with that.
If you see a donation jar around town, please drop some change in or donate online at www.cachecreekvillage.com
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal