Langley’s Christian Life Assembly (CLA) church is collecting emergency supplies for the people stranded in Hope.
Saying an estimated 1,100 people in Hope have been cut off, CLA lead pastor Derrick Hamre announced the church is working with Sky Helicopters to do an air drop of water, blankets and dehydrated or freeze-dried meals.
Donations of those items can be dropped off at Christian Life Assembly, at 21277 56th Ave. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“There are teams on standby that will pack the items and deliver them to the helicopter,” Hamre said.
“There will be daily emergency flights going into Hope for as long as needed. We are also working with our partners to organize a convoy that will deliver food, water and other necessities to those in Kamloops. This convoy will be coming from Edmonton.”
READ ALSO: Lougheed Highway to open westbound for the hundreds of travellers stuck in Hope
Torrential rain washed out the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt, and east of Chilliwack, there was a series of mudslides closing the highway leading into Hope.
On Friday, Kim Tran, church communications director, said the need for donations continues.
“We have been getting needed items out to Hope and Abbotsford all day [Thursday],” she explained. “A truck with 22 skids of items is arriving in Kamloops around 1 p.m. [Friday] And we are trying to find out how to get stuff into Chilliwack and Merritt. So the call is ongoing for donations.”
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READ ALSO: PHOTOS: Ministry of Transportation releases images of damage on highways near Hope
Is there more to the story? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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