HIGH RIVER — The flood-ravaged southern Alberta town of High River has gotten another boost from Canadian performer Tom Jackson.
The singer called in a few favours Wednesday and delivered a truck full of food and supplies to Mission Possible at the High River exhibition grounds just in time for lunch.
Volunteers have been at the site feeding needy families since the floods devastated the community back in June.
Officials say there are still 300 to 500 families who rely on the service everyday and the donation couldn’t have come at a better time.
Jackson also organized the recent Halo High Water concert to raise money for southern Alberta flood relief.
He says a friend from Mission Possible called him and told him they were running out of food and so he decided to do something about it.
“I simply made a phone call to a friend of mine, James McAra, who runs the food bank in Calgary and I said I have a situation in High River,” says Jackson. “ He said, ’what are the details?’ I told him and he said, ’well, we’ll solve that.’ ”
Jackson then called another friend to mobilize a truck and crew to pick up the supplies from the food bank.
“And as long as this camp is here, there will be food for these people,” says Jackson, who adds the basics are still in high demand in the community.
“They don’t have toiletries. They don’t have socks or underwear. When you are in these situations and you don’t have laundry facilities, socks, you wouldn’t think that.”
Meanwhile, the provincial government announced the High River General Hospital emergency department is set to re-open Thursday.
“The re-opening of the emergency department is an important step in ensuring all High River residents have access to all the health services at their hospital,” said Health Minister Fred Horne.
“With the department’s opening we are reaffirming our commitment that health services offered at the hospital will be fully restored as quickly as possible.”
Public health, home care, addiction and mental health clinics as well as x-ray and laboratory services are available at the hospital. Next steps include the opening of beds used for obstetrics, gynecology and general surgery patients in mid August to support low-risk obstetrics and elective surgery.