After the horrible devastation in Jasper, people in Saskatchewan and Alberta have come together to help the beleaguered residents of the iconic, picturesque town in Jasper National Park.

Harvard Media and its radio and digital outlets in two provinces teamed up with other radio stations to promote the website albertadayofcaring.com. People in Alberta and Saskatchewan responded to the messaging both on the radio, and social media to go to the website and make a donation.

Donations were also made through texting the key word “RADIO” to the short code 20222.

In Alberta, people were being urged to take in their recyclable bottles to the depot, and say “This is for Jasper”, with the deposits being sent on to the Canadian Red Cross as well. Reports say the response to that program has been tremendous, and the depots will continue taking donations of bottles for Jasper all through this week, and the long weekend.

Throughout the “Day of Caring for Jasper, the totals began to grow and grow, until this evening when the final tally read and estimated $1,555,446.00. That figure includes a pledge by the federal government, and the government of Alberta to match any Canadian donations to the relief effort dollar for dollar.

That number could climb higher as more bottles are returned in Alberta over the next several days.

All of the money raised will be used by the Canadian Red Cross to help the people in Jasper and the surrounding area who have been impacted by this fire. This will also give a big boost to the recovery process as Jasper alone lost more than 300 buildings and structures.

Organizers of the “Alberta Day of Caring for Jasper” say they expect to have a final tally Tuesday August 6th.

Harvard Media is the owner of this media outlet.