Agribusinesses contributing to Fort McMurray relief

John Deere and Brandt donate to the Canadian Red Cross

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Two agribusinesses have pledged to donate $150,000 to the Canadian Red Cross as part of the Fort McMurray wildfire relief.

John Deere and Brandt will make the donation, which will go directly to the nearly 80,000 affected by the wildfires; the funds will help them get back on their feet since the fires forced a mandatory evacuation of the city last week.

"We felt that it was critically important for us to move quickly," said Brandt President, Shaun Semple in a release.  "Brandt and John Deere have always shared a strong long-term commitment to the communities that we serve. This donation is just one of the ways in which we plan to work together to assist victims of the Fort McMurray fire, including many of our own employees, to return to their community and rebuild their lives."

According to the Toronto Star, donations to the Canadian Red Cross total about $50 million.

"It is thanks to amazing partnerships and contributions like this that the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by this traumatic event will be met," said Cindy Fuchs, vice-president of the Canadian Red Cross in Saskatchewan in a release. "The generous support of the Brandt Group of Companies and the John Deere Foundation is greatly appreciated."