When wildfires drove Jasper, Alberta, residents from their community in July 2024, people around Alberta and across Canada wanted to help. JustServe specialists quickly identified organizations assisting evacuees and connected those organizations with individuals, families, businesses and faith communities wanting to help.
JustServe is a member of the Alberta NGO Council, a network of nongovernmental organizations that are active participants in Alberta’s emergency management landscape. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, JustServe provides assistance by sharing information on its app and website to help individuals and organizations wondering how and where to volunteer to assist community needs.
- 1-Jasper-wildfires-backpack-donation.jpeg
- 2-Collette-Walker.jpeg
- 3-Merrell-shoes-and-donated-items.jpg
- 4-Garsides-and-Volunteers.jpg
- 5-Schofields-and-Larson.jpg
- Cam-Bullock-and-his-daughter,-Shondi,-help-load-and-deliver-a-trailer-filled-with-donated-items-for-the-Jasper-wildfire-response-in-July-2024.
- 7-Teixa-Bullock.jpeg
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
JustServe Support
During the wildfire, many Jasper residents were evacuated to Grande Prairie until the fires were under control and the damage assessed. JustServe supported the Grande Prairie Regional Emergency Partnership (GPREP) by co-ordinating local businesses, organizations and community members looking to provide donations to evacuees.
Grande Prairie’s JustServe specialist, Erin Litchfield, quickly enlisted the help of the website’s registered organizations and volunteers by setting up a dedicated page on the JustServe website, known as a “disaster recovery centre.” Litchfield contacted community businesses and non-profit organizations and compiled a list of collection/distribution locations for the needed items, which she added to the JustServe disaster recovery centre page.
The link to this information was shared with the community and others across the province, letting them know how they could help. It was also given to GPREP, who then provided it to evacuees as they checked in at the reception centre. Knowing that an influx of people would be arriving, the community rallied to donate needed items like clothing, blankets, hygiene items, water and snack foods.
Sarah Mosaico, JustServe specialist for North/Central Alberta, said, “By utilizing JustServe, community members and provincial- and national-level organizations worked together, providing relief and hope to Jasper residents following the devastating Jasper wildfire.”
Co-ordinating Large Donations
Merrell, the global footwear company, reached out to offer 200 pairs of high-quality, waterproof shoes. Through JustServe, the Merrell team was connected to Jasper Relief Effort to ensure the donations got to individuals in need.
“All of those items were taken within a few days,” shared Colette Walker, a leader with Jasper Relief Effort. “The evacuees are so very grateful; it really touched their hearts and ours.”
Through JustServe’s role on the Alberta NGO Council,JustServe specialists connected with other national and international organizations that wanted to help.Islamic Relief Canada (IRC) reached out to support displaced Jasper children.
“We knew that the devastation caused by the fires was extensive, and Islamic Relief Canada wanted to step in and provide support to those in need,” said Nabeel Hameed, IRC Alberta regional manager of fund development. “Thankfully, we were able to connect with JustServe, which made the process of helping simple.”
Through IRC, back-to-school supplies for 50 students were collected. Backpacks containing essential items — such as paper, notebooks, scissors and water bottles — were provided to the team at Full Circle Hinton, a local thrift store that quickly mobilized to support Jasper residents.
At Islamic Relief Canada,” Hameed added, “our mission is to mobilize Canadians to transform lives around the world in a trusted manner. Our work at Islamic Relief Canada is not limited to international projects; it spans domestic efforts as well. We hope to support our own communities and communities around the world by uplifting them in times of need.”
Support From Latter-day Saint Communities
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grande Prairie donated more than 200 water bottles and 100 granola bars to evacuees. Morgan Nish led the collection project within her congregation and commented, “When I came across the opportunity through JustServe, I thought that this would be great to share with my Relief Society (Church women’s organization). It aligned with our purpose to delight in service, relieve suffering and care for those in need. Our involvement fostered a sense of accomplishment, unity and increased love for others.”
Linley and Robin Coward, owners of Bullets & Broadheads, accepted and helped distribute the water and granola bars. They personally relate to the evacuees: “Years ago, we were in the same situation in Swan Hills and were evacuated, so we are very familiar with the feeling of leaving your home and being displaced. We are very community-minded and want to help wherever we can.”
Members of the Edmonton Alberta Riverbend Stake also joined with members of community leagues and neighbours to supply and transport much-needed humanitarian items to evacuees and first responders working the Jasper wildfires.
Elder Robert W. Mendenhall, Area Seventy for the Edmonton and Winnipeg Co-ordinating Councils, emphasized that “people from all walks of life want to lift others, especially in these challenging situations. JustServe is a valuable resource that our faith group is pleased to provide and is bringing greater unity to communities across Canada.”