From Wildfire Devastation to Resilience and Food Security
Lake life can be dreamy, but for Dave, a 54-year-old North Shuswap resident, the dream became a nightmare in the summer of 2023 when the devastating Bush Creek wildfire raged through his community.
“When the fires first started, it was a half-hour drive from my house. But when those winds came, it got so much closer. The place that burned closest to me is a 5-minute drive from my house. We were lucky because we have a creek that runs through our whole property,” Dave remembers.
Following the wildfire, United Way British Columbia offered the Wildfire Recovery Fund to local organizations that could provide support to the region as they tried to recover. The Eagle Valley Community Support Society (EVCSS) was a recipient of the fund, and they used the dollars to set up a temporary emergency food access program.
As United Way BC has evolved over the years, we’ve embraced an expanded role throughout the province which tackles critical social issues at the local level. This includes responding to emergencies like wildfires.
United Way BC’s Wildfire Recovery Fund provides immediate and long-term support to those affected by wildfires in the province. It helps provide a variety of programs and essential supports that are critical to residents as they recover emotionally and physically. Funds go toward addressing important needs like food access, gas cards for evacuees, mental health, support for children, and more.
“We had conversations with community members to know where they felt the gaps were. For many residents, the most significant concern was food security,” explains Debbie Thompson, project leader at EVCSS and a resident of the North Shuswap.
The challenge of food security in remote areas
In 2022, almost 17% or 857,000 British Columbians lived in a food-insecure household. For children under 18, the number is much higher at nearly 22%. “In the North Shuswap, food security has always been an issue, but it has become much worse after the wildfires,” says Debbie. “There’s a lack of resources available to the community due to geographical challenges that make accessing affordable food much more complicated due to distance and cost of transportation.”
On top of home and job losses, North Shuswap’s families were facing increased costs of food, housing, and gas to access food security programs. “Things are more expensive at our local market because we’re in a rural area. But if we go to town, we have to spend more on gas,” explains Dave. “When the fire came, lots of roads and stores were closed. Many of them were affected by the fires.”
A stronger community through food security and resilience
The EVCSS emergency food access program began in February 2024. “On the first Hamper Day, we handed out eight hampers. We are now averaging upwards of 25 hampers. This project will now be a permanent fixture in our community,” says Debbie proudly.
“Not only people who are receiving the hampers benefit from the program, but also other community members. They are so thankful that now there is a food security program here. Our community has become much stronger as we continue to work together to recover,” she says.
Hamper Days are held every two weeks between 1 and 3 pm at the North Shuswap Community Hall, ensuring access to nutritious food, which is crucial to overall well-being and economic stability. The program is helping reduce some of the financial burden on families, contributing to long-term recovery and sustainability.
Bringing together the power of many
The EVCSS emergency food bank proves how vital it can be for a community to have resources like the Wildfire Recovery Fund. Everyone is susceptible to being in an entirely life-changing situation, and the impact on mental health is enormous. People need to heal not only materially and financially, but also emotionally.
The need for assistance doesn’t stop when the immediate crisis ends. “Even now, when we had smoke in the mountains again this year, it’s triggered some things from last year. It gets you wondering: is this happening again? Are we going to lose it all this time?” says Dave.
United Way BC is committed to the well-being of our communities, working alongside those affected throughout the recovery process to help create long-term sustainability.
To learn more about our impact, please read the United for BC Wildfire Recovery Fund – 2023 Report at https://uwbc.ca/wildfires/.
United for hope and recovery
In a time of crisis, initiatives like the emergency food bank can make an incredible difference, as it did for Dave. “The food bank goes a long way for me, helping to contribute to our household. With the general cost of living today, a lot of people need to be able to access the program,” Dave highlights. “Receiving extra food enables us to use some of the money for other needs. Every little bit helps.”
All British Columbians deserve to have their needs met after a wildfire. Thanks to the United Way BC Wildfire Recovery Fund, there’s hope for that.
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