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United Way NWT says it has distributed more than $715,000 to organizations supporting northerners displaced by wildfires since May.
Over the past five days, United Way NWT wildfire response coordinator Jacq Brasseur said they had approved 13 contributions totaling more than $270,000.
“United Way NWT is grateful for the support we’ve received from all over North America for our community members since May,” David Connelly, chair of United Way NWT’s emergency response committee, was quoted as saying.
“Our ability to respond depends on the continuing extraordinary generosity of community members, labour, business and governments to donate to the United Way NWT, so we can redistribute funds to the people and organizations doing work on the ground to support evacuees.”
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United Way NWT changed its policy this week to include grants for Alberta organizations supporting northerners who have fled south. The organization said it was also ramping up fundraising efforts, setting a goal of raising $1 million.
Brasseur said United NWT is hoping more territorial organizations supporting evacuees will request funds by reaching out to support@nwt.unitedway.ca.
United Way can only provide funding to registered charities and qualified donees due to Canada Revenue Agency requirements.
More than 60 percent of the territory’s population remains under evacuation orders as wildfires threaten communities in the South Slave, North Slave and Dehcho.
Correction: August 20, 2023 – 10:09 MT. A previous version of this story stated United Way NWT had raised $715,000 in donations since May. In fact in has distributed $715,000.
