As communities across the Interlake continue to recover from last week’s devastating flooding, Madeline’s Closet has stepped in to provide emergency assistance to residents who have lost essential belongings and are struggling to rebuild their lives.
The charitable organization has opened an emergency response centre at the Balmoral Recreation Centre to serve residents affected by flooding throughout the region.
Since the flooding began, Madeline’s Closet has responded to more than 200 emergency calls for assistance, said Shannon Dupont, who is coordinating the organization’s flood relief efforts.
“We’re worried about the people,” said Dupont. “Municipalities are worried about infrastructure. We worry about the people. People need to know somebody cares about them.”
The centre is operating Monday through Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and is open to anyone affected by flooding, regardless of which municipality they live in.
The flooding prompted states of emergency in six Interlake municipalities and communities, leaving many residents facing significant losses.
Dupont said requests for help range from clothing and household items to basic toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant.
“Some people have lost everything,” she said.
One encounter particularly underscored the need.
“I had a lady come in and she said, ‘Can I please just have a toothbrush and some toothpaste? Our bedroom and bathroom were downstairs,’” Dupont recalled. “She said they couldn’t even afford to go buy those things.”
While Madeline’s Closet has long provided emergency assistance to residents in need, Dupont said the scale of the flood response is unlike anything she has experienced in 18 years with the organization.
The organization has moved large quantities of inventory from its Inwood location to Balmoral, including the equivalent of three trailers, eight trucks and four SUVs filled with supplies.
Most of the items being distributed are new, although the organization is accepting donations of toiletries to help meet growing demand.
“Toiletries are going really, really quickly,” said Dupont. “I cleaned out three dollar stores on the weekend of deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste.”
The organization is also seeking volunteers to help operate the centre. Current duties include sorting donations, stocking tables, assisting visitors and helping manage the facility.
At present, only five volunteers, including Dupont herself, are staffing the operation.
Compounding the challenge is the fact that many of Madeline’s Closet volunteers are flood victims themselves.
“Out of my 30 volunteers, 25 have been affected by the flood,” she said. “It’s everything from a little bit of water to people who have lost everything.”
One volunteer lost their home after floodwaters reached approximately eight feet inside the residence.
Dupont said the emotional toll is becoming increasingly evident as residents begin coping with the aftermath.
“The flood part is gone, but the aftermath won’t be gone for quite a while,” she said. “People have lost family mementos, photographs and everything they’ve collected over a lifetime.”
The Balmoral Recreation Centre was selected as the location because of its central position and because the facility was made available at no cost.
“The recreation centre has been super awesome. They donated the facility to us,” said Dupont.
The emergency response centre is expected to remain open for at least several weeks, with operations being evaluated on a week-by-week basis.
Dupont said volunteers are urgently needed as demand for assistance continues to grow.
“We don’t know if we’re going to have two people come through the doors or 2,000,” she said. “We’re taking it one day at a time.”
Anyone requiring assistance or interested in volunteering can contact Madeline’s Closet by calling or textingn Shannon at 204-861-8336 or visit the Balmoral Recreation Centre during operating hours.
“We need to get back to having a sense of community and helping each other,” said Dupont. “Without that help, people are going to struggle.”
