A trailer loaded with thousands of dollars worth of donations is headed to Fort McMurray thanks to the leadership of B&J Trucking owner Wyatt Bednarz with help from Lake City Ford.
Three weeks ago Bednarz called shop dispatcher Rick White at Ford to help him organize a fundraiser.
Bednarz told White he had the truck, trailer, fuel and driver at no charge, he just needed help filling the trailer.
When the trailer wasn’t filling up fast enough, Bednarz called all his customers in Williams Lake and a few in Vancouver for donations and everyone pitched in.
“I went to a local grocery store, that doesn’t want to be named, and asked what they could give me for $10,000,” Bednarz said. “They filled it up with canned goods, shop vacs, things you would never think of and they gave me a good deal.”
“It’s filled with clothing, diapers, bottled water, hygiene products, dog food and treats, even personalized gift bags for kids,” White said.
Lake City Ford owner and general manager David Wong said the community’s generosity has been “incredible.”
“Cheques have been coming in pretty steadily,” Wong added.
When the truck leaves the Cariboo it will haul the goods to a warehouse that is accepting donations on behalf of the Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society in Edmonton.