The Salvation Army of Fort McMurray is reaching out to the community for help during these times.

After the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to close their thrift stop doors back in March, April’s flood has kept them from reopening.

The organization is currently repairing the building which is stopping them from accepting donations.

The basement of the thrift store where the Mat Program is usually held – an overnight shelter where members of the homeless community can find a warm meal and safe place to sleep among other services – flooded and the program has had to be moved upstairs into the space the thrift shore operates from.

All of the store’s donations were damaged as they were stored in the building’s basement and in a unit in Taiga Nova Eco-Industrial Park.

“We get calls daily about taking clothing,” said Edna Olsen-Moman, Executive Director of Community Services with the Fort McMurray Salvation Army.

“Hold onto those items please. We will advertise on our social media when we are able to take donations again.”

Construction on the buildings is expected to be completed in 8-12 weeks.

In the meantime, they’re reaching out to the public about a temporary donation spot.

“If anybody has a huge storage unit that we could use, we would look at taking as many items as the storage unit could take,” added Olsen-Moman. “We have nothing. When we reopen the thrift store, we are going to need those donations ”

Meanwhile, due to COVID-19, the Salvation Army has had to cancel three fundraising events and the Christmas kettle bell campaign may look different this year.

If you are able to help store the thrift store’s donation items for the thrift store, please call Mallory at 780-743-4135.