On Friday night, Jon Cornish, a running back with the Calgary Stampeders, pledged $10 for every yard he ran against the British Columbia Lions.
His net rushing that night in the teams' Canadian Football League season-opening game was 172 yards, with another 20 yards through the air. He rounded up the total distance to provide $2,000 for the Red Cross, which was also collecting donations at Calgary's McMahon Stadium, where the Stampeders trounced Lions 44-32.
Across the country, from bottle drives to blue ribbons to doughnuts, Canadians are chipping in. The Calgary Stampede is selling "Come Hell or High Water" T-shirts to raise money. Tim Hortons stores in the province are offering an "Alberta Rose" doughnut for $1, with all the proceeds going to the flood efforts.
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The Slave Lake Wolves, a junior B hockey team that had to miss the 2011-12 season because of a wildfire that ravaged their town, challenged other teams in their league to match a $500 donation to the High River junior B team. In Edmonton, two teenaged sisters have started blue ribbons, at $5 a piece, to raise funds for the flood-stricken.
For Canadians who want to donate, here is a sampling of some cross-country options:
- Canadians may donate directly to the Red Cross by visiting the organization’s website or calling 1-800-418-1111.
- Businesses and banks are also assisting those who want give to the Red Cross directly at their locations. These include Starbucks, Chapters, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Sears, Brooks Brothers, branches of RBC and TD Bank, as well as Desjardins in Quebec and Ontario.
- Alberta shoppers can make $2 donations at Loblaws-owned grocery stores.
- The Calgary Boys and Girls Club is asking for cash donations or gift cards to help youth in their shelters replace clothing and items destroyed in the flood.
- Rogers and Fido cellphone customers may donate $5 to the Canadian Red Cross by sending a free text message with the word ABHELP to 4664.
- Canadians may also donate through the Salvation Army Alberta Flood Relief Effort by calling 1-800-725-2769 or visiting the website at salvationarmy.ca/2013/06/30/salvation-army-responds-to-alberta-floods
- The Samaritan’s Purse Canada, a non-denomination Christian organization, is accepting donations and seeking volunteers to provide help on the ground.
- Canadian Lutheran World Relief is accepting donations on its website.
- Pet Valu stores are collecting donations for the Heaven Can Wait Animal Rescue, an organization working to help reunite stranded pets with their owners in Alberta.