The president of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario is calling for municipalities to give cash to support rebuilding efforts in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Gary McNamara, who is also the mayor of Tecumseh, wants members to pass the plate to help evacuees with their everyday necessities; things like clothing and food which aren't covered by property insurance.
"They need all kinds of amenities today," says McNamara.
He says he started at last week's Ontario Small Urban Municipal Conference in Goderich by asking delegates to give one $5 bill each. Within five minutes, he says they had raised more than $1,200.
The OSUM Board of Directors matched that, and with matching funds from the provincial and federal governments, they'd raised about $7,500.
Asked what it would mean for a town like Tecumseh to rebuild, McNamara responded, "you can't put it into words."
"I really don't believe that they can comprehend because many of them are still in a state of shock," he says.
Donations from the municipalities will be given to the Red Cross.