Weeks After Oklahoma Wildfires, Families Still Need Help

Jacqueline Sit, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Wildfires destroyed nearly 40 homes in Choctaw and Harrah on March 11. Three weeks later, many of those families are struggling and still need the basics.

The Christmas Connection Collection Day Drive will provide some of those much-needed items.

The non-profit organization has a Crisis Relief Program that has given household items and furniture to families who lost everything in the March wildfires.

"Most of the families that come in were either in rental space or did not have insurance on contents," said Shelley Dutton, Executive Director of The Christmas Connection. "So in the fire they lose literally everything, even things that are not burned were damaged due to smoke damage or just the heat."

Unfortunately, The Christmas Connection's household supplies are running extremely low, so they held a collection drive on Saturday, April 2. Everyday basics were their biggest need, items such as blankets, sheets, towels, plates, and pots and pans.

"When they first come to us, they get the very basics and usually they come back in a few weeks when they start settling in a new place on oh we forgot about this or we need this," Dutton said.

Volunteer and OU freshman Lindsay McGee gathered up a group of her friends to help sort out donation items.

"It's just so sad seeing all their possessions being gone and I can't imagine going through something like that. So it feels really great to help people who [go] through stuff like that," McGee said.

The Christmas Connection still desperately needs donations. Find out where you can drop off much-needed house wares.