Linda Corscadden was met with cheers and hugs as she and a team from the BC Country Music Association (BCCMA) drove a “country-style” convoy of cash and kindness from Agassiz to Ashcroft, then Logan Lake back home to the Lower Mainland on Saturday.
Earlier this month, a number of B.C. country musicians – lead by Agassiz musican Richard – pulled together a wildfire relief concert in Langley.
The BCCMA-hosted music event – held at Gabby’s Country Cabaret – raised more than $13,500 and also collected a number of physical donations for the fire victims.
The majority of the aid was directed to Boston Flats in Ashcroft, where the entire trailer park was wiped out, said Corscadden.
She and the team presented the majority of the money raised to this group, giving them a $10,000 cheque on the weekend.
“We sure felt the love, as we were greeted by the majority of those who lost their homes in Boston Flats… They cheered as we walked in, hugs, tears…”
Corscadden admitted to being near tears many times, including when they introduced themselves and what trailer they ‘used’ to live in.
“It was a very hot day out yet I had goose bumps from head to toe,” she said. “It was hard to hold back tears listening to some of their stories.”
She noted that six of the residents didn’t have house insurance, so a lot of the money raised will help them first.
“Going on to the site was heart wrenching, I’m just so thankful no lives were lost,” Corscadden added.
“It was devastating… very overwhelming,” she said of their whirlwind visit to the fire ravaged areas.
Concert organizers wanted to spread some of the love – and money – around. So the remainder of the financial donations – which equated to $3,665 – was given to the 100 Mile Haulers, a group that has been hauling livestock out of the fire zones since the evacuations began.
“They’ve been doing this for months, and they always need help with feed and gas, so we gave them the balance of the money,” Corscadden said.
In addition to the cash collected from the benefit concert, a trailer full of other donations was also collected. It included usable household items, non-perishable food, blankets, toiletries, and other items to help those displaced or rebuilding.
After stopping in Ashcroft, earlier in the day, the convoy continued further northeast – next stop Logan Lake.
That’s where the “goodies” as Corscadden called them, were dropped off with the food bank.
“Logan Lake was incredible, we were greeted with about 20 helpers,” she explained.
Sadly Richard, who conceived of the idea and helped pull the benefit concert together, was sick with the flu and unable to participate in this weekend’s convoy.
“I just want to thank everybody again for all of the help and support: donations, venue, towing trailers, volunteers, artists, anybody who in any way helped for this fundraiser. Thank you from Todd Richard and myself on behalf of the BCCMA.”
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