Sending thoughts and an RV to Slave Lake
Imagine being given only seven minutes to pack what you could into a car and then having to evacuate your home while flames were surrounding your vehicles. This is what some of the people in Slave Lake, Alberta went through according to Jack Keshen who has family members who live in the now partially destroyed town.
After seeing the devastation from the forest fire, local resident Bill McKay made the decision he wanted to do something to help. It did not take long for McKay to figure out he had something residents of the area could use.
McKay called around in an attempt to find a way to moved his recreational vehicle to the area so that it could be used as a temporary home.
Eventually a member of the Rotary Club of Invermere contacted Keshen and informed him of the desire of McKay to send his RV to Slave Lake.
Keshen has a sister and a number of of relatives who live in the town. After contacted his family and McKay the decision was made to move the RV to the area to help as many families as possible.
“My sister said it would be perfect because they have no place to live. Her house was damaged but they do not know how much and they are not allowed into town,” Keshen said.
He went on to explain that even once they are allowed back into town they are not sure if there will be power, water or anything else.
The plan is to use the RV until they get back into their house and then they will pass it on to another family who needs it and hopefully continue having it in use until everyone gets to go home.
As for why he decided to donate the vehicle McKay simply said, “Why not? It was something I had and did not really use it. I use it occasionally and I think it will be better used by donating it,” he said.
As for the family who is going to be the first to use the RV, Keshen said that, “She was excited because the only other option was living with a couple in their RV which is pretty small.”
Keshen will drive the vehicle so far and meet some of his family who will then drive it the rest of the way back to the town when they are let back in.
McKay was quick to play down his donation and said, “It is no big deal as long as it goes to somebody”.