Fort McMurray social groups struggle with impending closure of donations centre

The loomingclosure of the AlbertaWildfire DonationCentre in Edmontonwillleave wildfire victims high and dry unless some group steps up to fill the gap, sayFortMcMurraysocial agencies.

"This is really an urgent need," said Diane Shannon,executive director of Fort McMurray's United Way.

"We understand the importance of getting moving on this as winter approaches and the warehouse in Edmonton prepares to shut down."

• MORE:Last call for donations, volunteers to help Fort McMurray residents

Friday is the last day theAlbertaWildfire DonationCentrewill be accepting drop-offs.

The provincehired the Adventist Development Relief Agency Canada following the wildfire in Mayto collect, sort and distributedonations in arelief effort, but the group's$1-million contract ends onNov. 30.

The centre'sprogress report to the end of September shows volunteers have sorted 13,225,250 donated items such astoiletries, linen, food items, and pet products.

"We are hoping that before we have to shut down Nov.30, the agencies up there will find the space and the capacity to be able to accept some of these pallets we've had here since June," said Kryzia Abacan, the centre's communications and office manager.

'Increased concern'

Howeverthere is no centre in FortMcMurrayreadyto receive the goods.

Fort McMurray's social agencieshope to come up with a plan to accommodatethe remaining pallets.

• BACKGROUND:NGO hired to handle deluge of donations for Fort McMurray

"The crisis was in the heat of the beginning of summer and we are seeing an increased concern around warm winter clothing and hats and mittens and coats, especially for children and for everyone," Shannon said.

Other groups, like the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, saythere will be an ongoing need for donations well into the next couple of years as the slowprocess of home rebuilding drags on.

The Adventist reliefagency said it would help in whatever way it was needed, but neither the province nor the municipality has requested itsservices.

Neitherresponded to arequestfor an interview Thursday.

In the meantime, the United Way and Wood Buffalo Food Bank say they're meeting with other local agencies to brainstorm on how to find and staff awarehouse capable of receiving and distributingstill-needed donations.

Follow David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, on Facebook, Twitter and via email.