A Vancouver MLA is calling on any groups that received donations following the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy to turn over any unspent funds.
In a letter to United Way BC this week, Mable Elmore, the MLA for Vancouver Kensington, suggested that any funds returned should be disbursed directly by the charity to survivors and victims’ families.
She says the charity, which launched the Kapwa Strong Fund, raised over $2 million, and distributed the money across around 38 organizations, should repatriate any unspent funds.
Elmore’s suggestion comes just days before the first anniversary of the car-ramming attack that killed 11 people and injured a dozen more at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver.
She says survivors and the families of victims need all the help they can get.
“There’s a lot of emotion. It’s a difficult time. And so I’m really calling for the broad community to come together. First and foremost, we have to think about and support those families who lost their loved ones, the 11 people who were killed, and many people injured and many people impacted,” Elmore told 1130 NewsRadio.
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In conversation with the survivors, she says, “they’re struggling.”
As the anniversary approaches, she says listening to and emotionally supporting victims matters, but ensuring they have financial support is important.
“I also hear, just informally, that other organizations may have funds. And so [my letter is] just a request to them to support, to do the right thing and support victims and survivors who continue to need this support.”
Elmore says she’s confident groups that received part of the Kapwa Strong Fund will show compassion and respond favourably.