“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
This quote is from television great Fred Rogers, who knew a thing or two about how to be a good neighbour.
Rogers would have been proud of the Fraser Valley communities this week, as stories of kindness, selflessness and neighbourly love filled news feeds in between the announcements of disaster, fear, and desperation.
When there were people trapped and needing rescue, fellow travellers with more resources took them in, feeding them and playing card games in their stranded RVs, giving out granola bars to the children among them.
When the power was out throughout town, there were pharmacists working away to ensure everyone in long term care homes and the general public would have their medication supply remain steady. There were pizzas being cooked up and given out by shop owners. Church doors opening to all. Teachers shifting from instructors to volunteers.
Local residents, businesses and organizations have opened their doors to those who found themselves stranded here, and in doing so they became a small army of heroes.
This series of landslides, coupled with an extended, widespread power outage, is the biggest emergency event to happen in our recent written history. And when called upon, the Agassiz-Harrison community showed up to help.
This newspaper is filled with stories of resilience in the face of disaster. They are the stories we looked for, to share with you.
In them, we hope you will recognize the helpers Mrs. Rogers told her son to look for, so many decades ago.
To everyone who has given their hand, their time, their home and their heart to others this week, we say: Thank you, neighbour.
Black Press Media