By Marcia Love
An abundance of furniture and appliance donations for Maple Creek flood relief has left organizers in search of residents in need of assistance.
A furniture donation and pick-up centre was set up at the Maple Creek Community Arena on July 14. But Eleanor Bowie, an organizer of the donation centre, said there are not as many people asking for furniture as expected.
“I’m finding people are hesitant to ask for things,” she said. “People are more than willing to donate if people would say what they need. That’s the hard part.”
The donation centre recently received an offer from the Howard Johnson Hotel in Swift Current to donate beds and mattresses, nightstands, dressers, couches, TVs, lamps and other furnishings no longer required at the hotel since it is renovating. Arrangements were made for the donation centre to accept furnishings from about 50 rooms.
“It’s all used, but (the furniture) has all been health inspected and there’s nothing wrong with it,” Bowie explained.
Donations have also been accepted from individuals throughout the Maple Creek area.
The centre has collected many appliances, including refrigerators, washers and dryers.
Bowie said more donations of furnishings from the Howard Johnson Hotel and individuals will only be accepted if a need is present, as storage space is limited.
“We don’t want to bring in a lot of stuff unless it has a destination, because we can’t store it (at the arena) past the beginning of September,” she said.
However, many residents do not have the space to store furnishings until they find permanent housing.
“Until people get permanent housing, they have no place to store the furniture either, so we’re kind of at a hiatus,” Bowie said. “There’s no storage space left around town, and a lot of people are still in the motel.”
She said many of the furniture and appliances at the donation centre are perfect for trailers.
“When people in trailers get their living quarters sorted out, we can pretty much furnish their trailers,” Bowie said.
Anyone requiring furniture or appliances can pick up an application form at the town office, local churches or through social services. Completed forms may be dropped off at the town office.
Anyone wishing to donate furniture or appliances to flood relief may do so at the arena. The donation centre is open Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Couches, coffee tables and various other furnishings line the arena as donations continue to come in to the flood relief centre. Anyone requiring furniture or appliances can pick up an application form at the town office, local churches or through social services.            Photos by Marcia Love