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Abbotsford man instrumental in Fort McMurray donation

Wayne Goodwin is described as 'kind and decent'
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Abbotsford's Wayne Goodwin is pictured en route to deliver items to Alberta for victims of the Fort McMurray fire.

An Abbotsford resident and business owner has been instrumental in assisting with a donation drive to help victims of the Fort McMurray fire.

Wayne Goodwin of Goodwin’s Greenhouses and his fiance Jennie Wild immediately offered their support when a drive was organized at Agassiz Speedway by volunteers, including Leslie McKellar of Cloverdale.

McKellar said Goodwin, who sponsors races at the track, provided his business as a location to store the donated goods, which were collected at the speedway earlier this month.

He also organized an assembly line of volunteers to inspect the donated goods and box and categorize them.

McKellar said Goodwin also donated a trailer, which was filled with the collected items to drive to Redwater, Alta. –  a town located about 50 kilometres north of Edmonton which is providing evacuee assistance – and paid for the gas for the trip.

Goodwin cancelled the insurance on one of his work vans and had it insured to cover two girls who had held a drive to collect grad attire and wedding gowns for those displaced by the fire.

The girls were then able to deliver the items to Alberta, and Goodwin also delivered some of the formal wear himself because the girls had already filled the van with donated gowns.

He installed custom-made steel rods in both the trailer and the van so the garments would not get crushed.

Goodwin also organized businesses to donate goods for the cause, customized a flat-bed trailer in case a second vehicle was needed to deliver the items and supplied a catering truck to feed the volunteers involved in the trip.

McKellar referred to Goodwin as a “kind and decent man.”

“He is extremely humble and just a truly decent person, always offering a hand to everyone,” she said.

Another donation drive for Fort McMurray relief efforts takes place at Agassiz Speedway this Saturday, May 28.

Visit “Supporting the Fort McMurray Evacuees” on Facebook for more information or call 604-575-8355 or 604-671-7945.

A trailer with the items will leave from Cloverdale to Alberta on Tuesday.

 

 



Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
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