Unusable donations flood Canada's wildfire efforts

EDMONTON, Alberta, May 12 (UPI) -- An outpouring of donated items is becoming a burden to relief workers dealing with the Canadian wildfire because they are unusable.

People are donating things such as used clothes, children's toys and old shoes.

They aren't going to victims and instead are taking up space in an Edmonton warehouse.

"We have items that are dirty or things that are just not usable at this time," volunteer coordinator Marissa McNabb told CTV Edmonton. "We have to see if it's in a state that we can actually get it donated. If not, then we do have to find a way to get rid of it."

In 2011, a massive fire triggered donated iterms that ended up in a Calgary landfill.

"Most donations are really a great thing. But donations that are not needed are not cool because they pile up at ports and airports and parking lots ... and usually the people who move them are relief workers," said Juanita Rilling, director of the U.S. Center for International Disaster Information.

The Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society says it specifically needs medication, new pillows and new blankets.

The Canadian Red Cross said monetary donations are the best way to support the relief efforts. As of Wednesday, the organization had collected $52.11 million.

The Red Cross, which had registered 80,000 people, plans to give $600 to each adult and $300 to each child that evacuated.

Also the federal government will give adults $1,250 each and children under the age of 18 will get $500 on debit cards.

Four distribution centers were set up across Alberta Province, and officials expect long lines.

"Be assured that the funding will not run out," Premier Rachel Notley said at a news conference Wednesday. "There are enough debit cards for every eligible evacuee."

More than 90,000 people were evacuated on May 3.

The Fort McMurray wildfire covered approximately 566,000 acres by Wednesday night and was less than 20 miles from the Saskatchewan border.

More oil plants in the area were returning to normal after a one-week shutdown.