Many across Wood Buffalo are mourning the loss of a 12-year-old girl killed in a car accident over the weekend.
Mandla Youaleu-Mbomback passed away on Saturday while her family was in Montana.
A GoFundMe page was set up by Regina Oppon, Executive Director of the Rehoboth Alliance, with it already surpassing its goal of $3,000.
Oppon tells Mix News they thought this was the best way to help out her family.
“I think financially they are not very strong and we are helping them with this unexpected situation that’s come forward.”
Mandla was very active in helping the Rehoboth Alliance with their annual Black History Month celebration.
This includes being a part of their student choir and winning their 2017 Black History School Essay Competition.
“We started a new program called Black Inventors for Youth two Saturdays ago and she was there with her sister,” added Oppon. “I spoke to her and took a snapshot of her, she was giving a thumbs up – that was my last encounter, so when I heard about her death that scene kept coming to me.”
Her hope is more people will donate to Mandla’s family. She says she understands some may not be able to because of some of the financial hardships affecting people in the community.
“One thing I’ve found with people here is they have a big heart to help, to give, so I see that happening.”
People interested in donating can visit Mandla’s GoFundMe page.