With the roads washed out hundreds of travellers found themselves stuck between Aggasiz and Hope. A closure of Highway 1 near Hope pushed Fraser Valley traffic west of the river along Lougheed and when the Ruby Creek bridge washed out people were trapped in bumper to bumper traffic. With the driveway to Camp Hope covered in water, the staff knew people may not see it as a route to refuge so they mustered the camp bus and proceeded to the highway checking on vehicle occupants and inviting them to shelter at the Lodge. OAC member Marlita Minor was volunteering on-site to support Lytton First Nations fire escapees who remain temporary residents at Camp Hope. Now stuck herself she rolled up her sleeves to pitch in and welcome a new wave of arrivals. With every room occupied and no power available to the cabins, they moved mattresses into the upper assembly room so people could sleep someplace warm and dry. Lytton First Nations members assisted in welcoming and serving the exhausted and worried guests. Met with compassion and listening ears, stories of stalled journeys emerged along with tearful and tragic reasons for braving the dangerous conditions. Some needed a hug, others hot tea, and all needed food. Monday night the guest count exceeded 250. Staff scrambled to create a hot buffet meal and found two small beef roasts. Typically the kitchen team would expect this to serve about a dozen people but desperate to supplement and stretch supper for hundreds they prepared and served it. With amazement they witnessed a portion remain right until the last person in line came through. “Where is all the food coming from?” asked a curious guest. “Ever heard the story about a few loaves and fishes that fed thousands?” a kitchen server replied. Please keep the travellers and Camp Hope team in prayer. Camp Hope has been an evacuation emergency social services center since July 8, 2021 and continues to serve those in need.
