The waters are rising again in the Valley. Right now as I write this, I can hear the rain pelting down on my roof. And there’s more to come. Another round of storms is bearing down on the coast – the third in a series of atmospheric rivers pouring across the Pacific. They are picking up moisture and seem bent on doing their damnedest to drown communities already water-logged and exhausted.

But you can help.

Tuesday, Nov. 30 is Giving Tuesday, (the Tuesday after big shopping days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

While the FVMBA loves and thrives on your generous support, this year you may want to help people who have been hit hard by these floods. People have been evacuated from their homes. Some have lost their farms – their livelihoods destroyed. Others have seen landslides make their neighbourhoods uninhabitable for now – maybe forever. If you are so inclined, and have the means, here are some ways you can help:

1. Abbotsford Disaster Relief Fund set up by The Abbotsford Community Foundation (ACF), the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, and the University of the Fraser Valley, this fund will distribute funding to agencies that work on the ground to help people impacted by the flood.
2. Canadian Red Cross British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather Fund – each dollar donated will be matched by the provincial government and the federal government.
3. Sumas Prairie Migrant Workers GoFundMe – 150 temporary foreign workers have been stranded due to the flooding in Sumas Prairie and this fund helps meet the workers’ basic needs.

Financial donations are needed. While all donations are appreciated, if you can find the means, financial donations make a  significant positive impact, here’s why.

Some people have asked how they can help their local trails recover from the floods. While many of the trails and trail networks that FVMBA cares for have held up well, or experienced minimal impact, others have been affected significantly. If you’d like to help your local trails this Giving Tuesday, here are some ways:

• Go for a walk and clear some drains
• Get your FVMBA Membership (remember to choose to have it Auto-Renew annually)
• Donate through TrailForks

We hope you can stay safe in these uncertain and unsettling times. Thank you for your support this Giving Tuesday.