Bus stuffed to support those evacuated by fire

Drumheller residents have come out in force to support the thousands who have been uprooted by the wildfires near Slave Lake.

     It appears there was a need for residents to find a way to help those affected, because in less than two days, they filled a school bus with needed supplies for the evacuees. On Thursday afternoon Drumheller resident Tracy McNichol got behind the wheel of her bus and was on her way to Athabasca.
    McNichol, who works for First Student Canada, knew the company was sending busses to the area to help with the evacuation. She thought, 'why send the busses empty?'
    She contacted her manager Sue Fowler Tuesday morning and the idea took off.
    “I called her yesterday, and said ‘Sue, I have a crazy idea, and I want to know what you think?’ And that’s how it all got started,” explains McNichol. “She said, ‘Yeah, absolutely!’”
    Through collections taken at the Drumheller Health Centre, Elim Pentecostal Church, IGA, The Pioneer Trail Centre and DVSS, the bus was stuffed with all kinds of items from toiletries, clothing, diapers and other necessities for the evacuated population.
    “In Drumheller it has just been wonderful,” said McNichol.
    Her idea more than took off, but continued to soar. Fowler, manager of First Student Canada for Strathmore, Drumheller, and Airdrie, said McNichol’s idea spread to the point there are now four busses from different communities all filled to capacity with supplies.
    “I put a random call out to drivers, and it has been so overwhelming,” she said.
The word spread through word of mouth, Facebook and eventually Calgary media.
    “We had the Taber bus coming up to meet the Drumheller bus, but it is so full now it is going to make the trip on its own,” said Fowler." Tracy started a really good thing, and it just of snowballed. That makes it four busses rolling…there has been a huge community response to this need, and we are certainly happy to get it up there.”