Inspired by the help he received after the Fort McMurray wildfires, a former Sault man has offered to pay the insurance deductible for a local not-for-profit that was broken into over Thanksgiving weekend.
Mike Major, who formerly lived in the Sault but now lives and works in Fort McMurray, said paying the $1,000 insurance deductible was the least he could do in light of the help he received while evacuated from his Alberta home during last spring’s wildfire season.
Major said he was blown away by the help he received while evacuated from Fort McMurray.
“I was living in a church in Edmonton, then I finally got home to the Sault on Friday the 13th. I thought it was the unluckiest day I ever heard of, turned out it was the luckiest day I ever had,” said Major.
He arrived in the Sault jobless and without a car.
He called a local business and explained he was home because of the Fort MacMurray wildfires and was hired by Milne Transport on the spot.
“As soon as I got there, a company offered me a job and I worked there all the way until I went back to McMurray,” said Major.
When he read yesterday’s SooToday article about the break-in at the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works and that they needed to fundraise to pay their $1,000 insurance deductible, Major decided to help.
“We do pretty good up here and, to be honest with you, the Sault has always been there for me. They needed a thousand so I’m giving a thousand,” said Major.
His sister-in-law delivered the money and a card to the centre this afternoon.
Fort McMurray resident Mike Major has offered $1,000 toward the insurance deductible for the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works after the agency was hit with a break in over Thanksgiving weekend. Major said the donation is in return for the help he received from the Sault when he and his family were evacuated from their home during last spring's wildfires. PHOTO SUBMITTEDMajor thought it would be challenging for the not-for-profit agency to begin fundraising so close to Christmas, especially with the uncertain economic climate in the Sault.
Major’s Fort McMurray house survived the wildfire, with some smoke damage.
“It could have been a lot worse. I know a couple of people up here that had their insurance company cancel them at the last minute,” said Major.
He counts himself and his family as being very fortunate.
“I’m not one to usually accept help, but the help that came to me, you wouldn’t believe. With clothes and fuel,” said Major.
Although he did receive some funds from the government, Major said most of the help he received came from regular people.
Christina Coutu, executive director of the Centre for Social Justice and Good Works, said Major’s offer is one of many she has received since the story was posted last night.
The centre has been offered two metal filing cabinets to replace the one that was damaged in the break-in.
The centre was busy today with repairs being conducted to the wooden moulding and broken doors.
Coutu is thankful for the items that weren’t touched during the break-in, many of which were left behind after the building’s former use as a convent.
“We have this beautiful set of china and I just think it’s so pretty. You don’t see that anymore. That’s what I was worried about, that they would touch the china — but they didn’t,” she said.
Coutu said the donations and encouragement she has received is helping to relieve some of the stress of the situation.
“I’m actually feeling okay with this right now, like whatever — computers? Big deal. We’ll figure it out,” said Coutu.
Because she was on vacation at the time of the break-in, Coutu is also thankful for the help of the centre's community development intern, Jessica Emms.
Emms dealt with a lot of the clean up and inventory of stolen items while Coutu was making her way back to the Sault.
“That’s not an easy thing to deal with, as an intern,” said Coutu.
Major thinks the centre will see even more donations and offers for help.
“If the Sault is as strong as I think it is, there will be more help coming,” he said.