Edmonton charity sorting debris after massive fire – Edmonton | The Canadian News

Emmanuel Foundation CEO Lyle Johnson isn’t sure where to start.

On Saturday, he went with his family to see the aftermath of the Edmonton warehouse fire that destroyed nearly all of the charity’s donations.

The fire occurred on Friday around 5:20 a.m. M. Gutted the building and the thrift store, which the foundation uses to help cover costs. Hay used as insulation on the roof helped fuel the flames.

“The loss, the impact of everything … The decisions before us, everything is starting to come home now,” Johnson said.

“One of the best things we experienced in the last 24 hours was overwhelming support.”

The Emmanuel Foundation ships freight containers to developing countries and also builds play areas for orphanages. In Edmonton, the foundation prepares ready-to-cook meals and raises funds for these efforts through thrift store sales.

“We have shipped 150 40-foot containers of hope to 40 different countries around the world, and installed more than 100 playgrounds in 23 different countries in orphanages around the world,” Johnson said.

Johnson started the charity in 2007. He worked with his wife to expand it. Three years ago, they started operating from the huge warehouse, and just this year, they opened the thrift store.

“They were probably our best days. Everything has come together for this moment … and then it’s gone, ”Johnson said.

“The great loss, for me, is all the love that people put into trying to help others, that was in that building,” Johnson said.

“Thousands of hours of volunteer work, and every time they pack a box or go through the clothes, they are thinking of people they will help.”

The foundation opened its doors to the warehouse to share the space. Johnson said the foundation works closely with Hope Mission. It used approximately 4,000 square feet of the space.

“All the items they had for the winter, they worked really hard. They had donations that came from other places and they had ordered, ”Johnson said.

White Cross Canada is another charity that collaborates with the foundation. Its objective is to send medical supplies to developing countries.

“Emmanuel (Foundation) has always been very helpful in organizing our container to send medical supplies to Cameroon, Africa. We have shipped, on average, two containers a year organized by Lyle and his team here, ”said White Cross Canada volunteer coordinator Bert Harsch.

“There are six hospitals there that we ship things to, plus about 40 outpatient clinics,” Harsch said.

“It breaks my heart because not long ago, they were here and (they told me) we have several pallets of things waiting for you to send them to Cameroon. Now everything is gone. “

The loss is enormous, but both Johnson and Harsch find comfort in their faith.

Johnson said that while the warehouse is destroyed, a shipping container that is due out in a few days with medical supplies was not touched. It will be the last container they can ship until they can get back on their feet.

The organization is now working with insurance and trying to determine all of its inventory. Johnson is hopeful that the foundation can continue to help others.

Edmonton Fire Services has not determined the cause of the fire and a damage estimate has not been completed.