By Stephanie Froese

Neighborly spirit too much for one container

Mar 4, 2011 | 4:18 PM

A cargo shipping container filled with relief supplies donated from people in the Prince Albert area is set to head overseas.

Thousands living in refugee camps or in extreme poverty in places like Mae Sot, Thailand are in need of materials like blankets, clothes, shoes and shovels.

Steve Flaman, Manager at Flaman Group of Companies in Prince Albert and Prince Albert based Global Neighbors made a goal to fill the container with things like blankets, clothing and tools.

Flaman said the response from the community has been so excellent that they are now working on filling a second container.

“What happened is we were about three quarters done and then we just had an absolute flood of supplies come in,” Flaman said.

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“We’re not overwhelmed yet, were getting close, but we have another quarter of a container just sitting in trailers right now.”

Three weeks ago about 45 volunteers boxed up about three quarters of the container. Flaman said he estimates they will be sending it out Mar.17. It’s hoped a second container can be shipped out in May or June.

He said the shipping container will be loaded in Prince Albert, travel by truck to Saskatoon, by rail to Vancouver and then by boat straight to Thailand.

The shipment is expected to take about five or six weeks to reach its destination right next to the Burma boarder.

“It will be unloaded in the Global Neighbors warehouse and then it will be set up for distribution after that … it’s right along the Burmese border, right in Thailand where all the displaced Burmese people are.”

Flaman said he is very impressed with how businesses and individuals stepped up to donate. For the second container he said they are specifically looking for tarps, tools and anything that can shed water as the rainy season is coming up.

“So if anyone has any items the can bring it to Flamans on highway two south or if you have a large amount of items, a halftone full or more, give us a call at Flamans and well make arrangements to pick it up.”

The phone number to call is 764-6004

sfroese@panow.com