Halifax Businesses Step up with Support During Wildfires
Halifax– It’s been a tiring, traumatic week for thousands of Nova Scotians. As more than 20,000 hectares of forest continue to burn, many have fled their homes with few belongings. Many others were not allowed back into the evacuation zone to get their beloved pets.
All these people and animals are in need of basic supplies. But one thing Nova Scotians can always rely on is the business community rallying together to raise money and donate goods and services.
Now, a Halifax company has found a creative way to rally their fellow entrepreneurs. Two co-owners of Good Fellas Stoves and Chimneys, Ryan Renshaw and Cody Gorman, have put out a challenge to other businesses to do whatever they can to help. They are calling it the Business 2 Business Wildfire Relief Challenge.
Good Fellas, which is also co-owned by Meagan Lake, offers chimney sweeping, installation, and other services. The company has even designed and sold its own woodfire hot tub.
The fundraising idea is similar to another viral challenge from a decade past. Good Fellas publicly challenges three companies in a video, and then those three companies challenge another three, hopefully creating a chain reaction.
“When the fires came to be, Cody and I had a conversation on the phone and really wanted to help out any way we could,” said Renshaw. “As a business that has some available resources and contacts, we’re in a position to help out. It was Cody’s idea to challenge other business owners, specifically, people who we know.”
“It just seemed like a great idea to do something similar to the ice bucket challenge. But instead of pouring cold water on people’s heads…we’re trying to inspire people to do their part.”
So far, one of the companies Good Fellas challenged has responded with its own video on Facebook. Anything Trucks said it is willing to offer their professional services and its equipment for towing, hauling, etc. The company will also be accepting donations for wildfire relief.
Already, two of the companies Anything Trucks nominated have responded. Bedford Appliance Warehouse said in its video it would drop off a stove to White Sails Bakery in Tantallon, since owners there are busy feeding firefighters and emergency responders.
So, just one day after Renshaw and Gormon made the video challenge, it seems to be working as intended.
The folks at Good Fellas are also putting their money where their mouth is. Renshaw and Gormon are both pet owners of beloved cats and dogs. When the fires started burning last Sunday, they were worried the needs of displaced pets wouldn’t be a priority.
So far, they have raised $1,300 to buy dietary pet food, blankets, dog kennels and other supplies. Penhorn Animal hospital has helped Good Fellas by donating expensive dietary food, toys, and beds. The donations are going to Good Bones Dog Rescue.
“We have pets ourselves,” says Gormon. “I felt like most people wouldn’t be looking at (pets). They’d be thinking about clothing or water and food like for the people who were evacuating.”
“I have a dog who is our pride and joy; a black lab. I just couldn’t imagine if my dog was going without. We treat her pretty well. She has the best of everything and eats really good food. I just wonder how many homeowners are freaking out about their pets and worried about their pets.
Meanwhile, there is no shortage of creative ways that businesses are helping battle the wildfires. Well Engineered Inc has employees who are volunteer firefighters. The company is giving them paid time off so they can fight the fire.
In a tweet, Well Engineered challenged other businesses to do the same. Cabco Communications said they too would be giving paid time off to a long-time volunteer firefighter.
“Volunteer Firefighters are struggling with making the decision to take vacation time to go fight the fire,” Neil Wolthers of Well Engineered told Acadia Broadcasting. “Most of them are volunteers. They can’t afford to go through that. So, as a business, to enable your employees to make that decision without the financial aspect was important. And I think that’ll free up quite a few people.”
“The firefighters walk among us. Lots of employers don’t even realize how many they have working for them. I understand that there’s [a lot of] people on the ground fighting the fire in Tantallon. If we’re able to free up one person, it wouldn’t take much to make a sizable increase to the number of people available to fight the fire.”
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected]. With files from Joe Thompson