The need for donations has risen exponentially after the number of evacuees from Saskatchewan’s north doubled on the weekend.

Fred Reibin with the Saskatoon Community Foundation says there were 1,400 evacuees on Friday and as of late last night that number had risen to 2,800.

In addition, a great number of children are among those evacuated from wildfires in northern Saskatchewan. Reibin says he knows Metis Nation-Saskatchewan and CUMFI are taking actual donations, but he says they are coordinating monetary donations.

“The Red Cross is collecting a lot of the donations for the basic necessities but over and above that people have lots of other needs so we’re collecting those donations along with the United Way.”

Reiben says they are distributing the donations to the organizations working directly with people.

“So, they can use those funds where they are needed the most and they can be really quick and responsive with them.”

You will find links to the donation portals for the United Way here and the Saskatoon Community Foundation here.