With a recent increase in the number and magnitude of disasters related to severe weather across the province, Canadian Red Cross is asking for donations totalling $500,000 to help provide necessary services to Saskatchewan residents whose homes or livelihoods were affected. Local volunteers have been actively responding, in collaboration with local authorities, to provide relief and recovery assistance since a tornado and overland flooding forced hundreds from their homes in central and southern Saskatchewan.
"Many people are looking for a way to help their friends and neighbours recover from recent disasters such as the tornado near Raymore and the floods in Yorkton," says Cindy Fuchs, Red Cross Provincial Director.
"We are asking community groups, corporations and residents of Saskatchewan to make financial donations to strengthen our ability to help these and many other communities."
Donations to the "Western Canada Severe Weather" fund will be used to assist residents affected by disasters in Saskatchewan. Red Cross assistance in Saskatchewan is provided free-of-charge and is co-ordinated with governments, insurance and other organizations to ensure there is no duplication of assistance.
Red Cross is working with community partners in several communities such as Carlyle, Central Butte, Cupar, Kawacatoose First Nation, Osler, Raymore, Saskatoon, and Yorkton to continue supporting those affected by the recent tornado and floods throughout Sask-atchewan. Whether it's assisting the community with immediate needs such as food, cleaning supplies and other goods, or assisting families with long-term recovery plans over the coming months, the Red Cross, with help from generous donors, will continue to help fellow Saskatchewan residents.
Financial donations to the "Western Canada Severe Weather" fund can be made:
Online at: www.redcross.ca;
Toll-free at 1-800-418-111;
In-person at Red Cross offices in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert;
At any Saskat-chewan Credit Union branch.
In the unlikely event that more funds are collected than necessary to provide assistance for this response, those funds will remain in trust to be used in the future to assist Saskatchewan or western Canadian residents affected by severe weather.
The Mosaic Company has announced it is contributing $100,000 for disaster relief efforts in Saskatchewan, where the majority of its potash operations are located. Mosaic's contribution will provide both immediate and long-term assistance and support clean up and housing efforts.
Mosaic will contribute the funds to the Saskatchewan Red Cross. Communities affected by severe weather recently include Maple Creek, Saskatoon, Yorkton and Kawacatoose First Nation.
"Red Cross is grateful to Mosaic and its employees for their significant support of current disaster relief efforts in Saskatchewan, as well as the support they have provided for many years," says Cindy Fuchs, Red Cross Provincial Director. "It is such support that enables Red Cross to provide assistance to those communities affected by severe weather throughout Saskatchewan."
The Company also said it will match contributions for each of its over 1,700 Saskatchewan employees in order to help rebuild these communities. The Mosaic Company has a long history of aiding the Red Cross with their disaster relief efforts across the globe.
"Supporting communities is ingrained in our culture, especially when disaster strikes so close to home," said Norm Beug, Mosaic's Senior Vice President, Potash Operations. "We are partnering with the Red Cross, making an immediate impact in these communities as well as helping with the long-term rebuild effort."
The Mosaic Company is one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated potash and phosphate crop nutrients. Mosaic is a single source provider of phosphates and potash fertilizers and feed ingredients for the global agriculture industry.
More informationon the company isavailable at www.mosaicco.com.
