I was not built for manual labour.
But I do have an awareness and compassion to help others, so when I went to High River to volunteer, I had a rude awaking.
I left early Saturday and arrived in running shoes, jean shorts and tank top ready and willing.
Organizers had just put a call out to the public to help so people were signing up to help in groups.
“What can you do?” an organizer asked.
Just about anything, I said.
They lumped a group of volunteers to one address in the north, and gave me a shovel and garbage bag.
The volunteers stations were filled with hand sanitizers, gloves, glasses, medical supplies, water and food and anything else that could possibly be helpful.
All of which was supplied free of cost by businesses in Southern Alberta.
Marks Work Warehouse supplied brand new rubber boots, hundreds of them, and handed them out free to anyone volunteering their time.
Lined up, all volunteers made their way to the big yellow school bus, where drivers were shuttling volunteers and residents where they need to go.
Volunteers were friendly and happy to be helping out, but there is still massive amounts of work that still needs to be done.
Houses and businesses in the downtown core are complete write offs, the scars of mud destroyed lawns and basements are there for everyone to see.
Signs in windows “need water,” or “need power” are in every window indicating their home still requires the basics.
Businesses with messages spray painted on the walls “still cleaning up, please don’t touch our supplies and furniture,” are a common sight.
Back on the bus, volunteers explain where they’re from and why they wanted to help.
The common thread, of course, is the unbelievable amount of damage and absolute dismay that this happened in our backyard to people we knew.
We were dropped off at a make shift bus stop, and told to stand by the sign when we were finished and someone would be there within half an hour.
The three of us marched towards the address and found the home owners waiting, an elderly couple in the early 80s.
They welcomed, thanked and showed us our project.
The three of us were to de-mud their back yard.
There was at least three feet of mud – of which 70 per cent is sewage – to move off the lawn and over the back fence where ideally the town was going to dispose of it.
Three shovels, three bodies, direct midday sun, and not enough water.
Our method of attack, shovel the muck into buckets and get the strongest (not me) to pour the mud over the fence.
It took us nearly five hours to clear the yard.
I lost feeling in my back after the first hour.
Blisters came soon after as did the sunburn.
All of it didn’t matter though, I was more ablebodied than some, and the home owners had been through enough.
This particular couple had to be rescued by RCMP from the top of their car when the flood waters destroyed their neighbourhood.
The three of us – exhausted – thanked the homeowners and we were on our way back to the bus stop.
Despite the smell, sunburn and destroyed clothes, spirits were still high.
Sure enough the bus was there within half hour and we were brought back to camp where I heading directly to the hand sanitizers section.
Organizers were very thoughtful and brought us food and water the minute we sat down.
After all, that’s what its all about, helping people, so despite not being able to move properly Sunday morning, I’m happy I have the small scars to show that I helped with clean up efforts.
There are plenty more backyards that need to be cleaned, if anyone is interested.
