A Manitoba MLA is joining forces with a Winnipeg city councillor and multiple community organizations to assist people impacted by lengthy power outages following a significant storm in Winnipeg. NDP MLA Billie Cross, who represents the Seine River constituency, has partnered with Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) and several other organizations to host a food drive on Tuesday to help St. Norbert residents who need food following the lengthy outages. “It’s such a huge loss when you lose your fridge and your freezer, and with the cost of groceries nowadays, it’s tough on folks,” Cross said in an interview on Saturday. The storm, which Manitoba Hydro said caused the worst summer storm damage on record, knocked out power to more than 30,000 people in Manitoba. The St. Norbert, neighbourhood was hit particularly hard by the storm, with some residents remaining without power, and having to dispose of food from their fridges and freezers. Cross said she had been observing residents of the neighbourhood working to help each other following the storm, and she wanted to help them by organizing a food drive. So far, Manitoba Harvest, the St. Norbert Farmers Market, the Manitoba Islamic Association, the St. Norbert Gurdwara and several other organizations so far have stepped up to host a food drive. “This is people coming together, but it doesn’t surprise me. This is St. Norbert,” Cross said. “This is a community that works hard together. They play hard together. They take care of one another.” Cross said the food driver is only for residents of St. Norbert. It takes place at the St. Norbert Farmers’ Market on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Those interested in helping with the food drive can reach out to Cross directly through her MLA email. Roughly 500 customers remain without power A spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro said Friday progress has been made at restoring power to remaining customers following Wednesday’s storm. As of Saturday morning, Hydro workers were responding to approximately 150 remaining storm-related outages affecting roughly 500 customers. “We’re prioritizing customers that have been out the longest, but today’s restoration work will still take time, in part because we’re dealing with many small, localized outages across a widespread area,” the spokesperson said. Hydro is expected to provide an update later Saturday.
