By Chad Klassen

Cache Creek residents receiving food, supplies from United Way, food bank

Jul 19, 2017 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — A day after Cache Creek residents were able to return home, some are without food and basic supplies. Without power  during parts of the evacuation, food spoiled and some stores aren’t yet open.

However, the United Way and Kamloops Food Bank are set up in Cache Creek for the next couple days to help people in need.

“United Way’s focus during this crisis in our communities is the social recovery and coming back. The re-entry piece,” said Kristi Rintoul, Thompson-Nicola-Cariboo United Way’s senior manager of community impact. “We want to make sure people know we’re here for them to provide, whether it’s just basic essentials like cat food and cans of beans and diapers.”

Al Lucas and his family arrived back on Wednesday morning, wanting to avoid the traffic chaos from Tuesday afternoon’s rush to get home. 

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But this isn’t his first time returning home as a result of fire. 

“About 13 months ago we got evacuated from Fort McMurray, just before I retired,” said Lucas. “Then we moved back to Cache Creek. Got evacuated again. Getting to be quite a veteran at this.”

While Lucas picked up groceries on his home from Kamloops, other Cache Creek residents weren’t as lucky. 

But on Wednesday, the United Way brought in essential food supplies from the Kamloops Food Bank, as well as basic toiletries, and pet food for anyone needing it.

“It’s really great. I was in Clinton for 10 days, so didn’t get a chance to go to Kamloops to grab stuff,” said Cache Creek resident Vanessa East. “It’s great to gra things and now we’re set and we don’t have to travel right away.”

Debra East, a single mom in Cache Creek, added her appreciation for the supplies after coming home to nothing. 

“It’s awesome. I came home to a rotten fridge and freezer, so it’s nice to come and get some meals and a few things we can cook until meals until we can get our fridge cleaned out and everything else,” said Debra. 

Linda Pierro is from the Bonaparte Indian Band. She thought with Cache Creek lifting its evacuation order, her family could return as well. 

But Bonaparte remains on order. Pierro had to break into her parents’ house in Cache Creek, where they’re now staying. 

“We were told we could come home from Kamloops,” she said. “But we got as far as the highway. We can’t go home because Bonaparte is not letting us in yet. They said a couple days.”

Pierro, though, appreciates the support from the United Way and Kamloops Food Bank. 

“Oh my gosh, great. I couldn’t believe it,” noted Pierro. “In Cache Creek, I didn’t think it was going to be too much because everyone had to be evacuated. So we thought this morning, this was a breakfast thing. But this is even better because you can get some food. People have been terrific in Kamloops.”

The United Way will be in Cache Creek helping residents until Friday, or beyond if it’s really needed.