Providing comfort after a house fire

The house fire raging through the home of the Guay-Bourbonnais family. 

Recently, the Guay-Bourbonnais family home, in Marieville, Quebec, was completely destroyed by a violent fire.

“I didn’t want help. I just couldn’t accept that I was a disaster victim,” recalls the mother of the family, Caroline. However, in the midst of the chaos, two Red Cross volunteers approached her and said “This disaster has affected you. It’s okay to let yourself be helped.”

For Caroline, that conversation with the Red Cross volunteers was the most reassuring moment of the day.

“It allowed us to start getting back on our feet. The most important thing we received from the Red Cross was comfort. When one of the volunteers gave my oldest daughter a stuffed frog, it instantly became her night-time teddy, her own source of comfort. From the first moment she held it, nobody else was allowed to lay a finger on it.”

Every three and a half hours, the Red Cross responds to a disaster, such as a house fire, flood or tornado, across Canada. Last year, 46,973 Canadians, just like Guay-Bourbonnais family, received Red Cross assistance. Teams of trained volunteers provide support to both families and communities for up to 72 hours following a disaster, ensuring that those affected have a safe place to stay, food to eat and clothes to wear as well as access to psycho-social support.

Each year, Walmart stores across Canada dedicate several weeks to support the Red Cross in helping Canadians prepare for, as well as recover from, disaster. The funds raised at each store are used where they are needed most, providing assistance to those affected by a disaster. Whether it is one family, like the Guay-Bourbonnais, or an entire city, like Fort McMurray, the Red Cross and Walmart are here for Canadians.

Visit www.redcross.ca/walmartcampaign or head to your local Walmart to donate today.