Lindsay Curry, Chairwoman, Community Council Kamloops SPCA mentions that $30,000.00 was provided to the SPCA to assist in recovering some, but not all costs associated with evacuating, feeding, fostering and caring for the animals from the areas affected by the 2003 fire storm.

What Ms. Curry has failed to mention is that Noah's Wish, an emergency disaster response organization for animals was also deployed and active during the fire storm and worked alone or along side the SPCA doing search and rescue, intake, assessment, feeding, dispatching, foster placement, food distribution, medical treatment and networking for supplies.

Teams of highly skilled and trained Noah's Wish volunteers worked endless hours at a variety of locations including Kamloops, Kelowna, 100 Mile House, Louis Creek, Barriere, Rayleigh and Heffley Creek all without pay and for some, at great cost both personally and professionally.

Though grants of $30,000.00 may not cover all of the incurred costs for the SPCA during this disaster it is certainly far more than Noah's Wish received. Noah's Wish volunteers were not reimbursed for gas, though donated gas cards were very much appreciated, volunteers did not receive funding for housing, though use of construction trailers and private homes for sleeping was a blessing, volunteers did not receive full payment for massive personal cell phone bills but the few dollars that were received helped to pay down enormous bills, volunteers did not receive salaries during their weeks and for some, months away from work but understanding employers helped on occasion and most importantly volunteers did not expect anything in return for their dedication but received unbelievable gifts from members of these communities.

These gifts came in the form of hugs, cookies, tears of joy, sandwiches and coffee. It was because of these most precious gifts the volunteers were able to sustain themselves in order to be ready to help the next family, the next dog, horse, cow, chicken, rabbit or hamster that was evacuated and needed a safe place to rest.

In addition to Noah's Wish volunteers, convergent volunteers were the backbone at each and every SPCA and Noah's Wish location. These volunteers gave of their time, their money and their hearts. They mucked stalls, cleaned and swept floors, delivered and made nourishing food, hauled live stock and large animals, feed and housed those in need and constantly gave 100% even though most of these volunteers had either lost their homes or were evacuees themselves.

No, Noah's Wish did not receive large grants to cover expenses but the kindness of those who were once strangers and who now are friends, goes a very long way.

Gail Moerkerken
BC/Canada
Noah's Wish Coordinator

Please read about the dedication of the Noah's Wish volunteers who attended to the 2003 fire storm at the links below.