Richmond resident raises $50K in wildfire aid for Summerland evacuation zone
David Wang and a team of volunteers purchased and delivered supplies to communities displaced by the Bald Range fire, which triggered the largest evacuation event this summer.
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David Wang, founder of Social Diversity of Children, a Richmond-based youth organization, set out for the Okanagan over the weekend with six trucks and SUVs loaded with supplies — all purchased and packed by volunteers in a week.
The effort raised more than $50,000 and delivered toiletries, food, clothes, towels and other basics to residents displaced by the Bald Range wildfire.
The mission began with a simple question from a student at an SDC summer camp in Coquitlam earlier this month: "How can we help families affected by the fires?" Wang said the question struck him hard. "I realized that we have these fires going on every year and I never really thought about how we can help. We always assume the government's able to be there, and there's support groups out there, but we didn't realize that might not necessarily always be the case."
On Aug. 10, Wang began contacting community leaders in Penticton and Summerland. Rather than donating cash, the team decided to buy items in the Greater Vancouver area and drive them south. "We had contacts on the ground that were saying some of the stores in the impacted region were running out of things, so we didn't want to risk it," Wang said.
On Friday, Aug. 15, volunteers packed six trucks and SUVs from top to bottom and drove to Penticton, where they personally delivered supplies to OneSky Community Resources for distribution. The drive was hazardous — ash covered the vehicles, and Wang's personal air quality meter registered numbers exceeding 1,000 as they passed through the fire zone. "Breathing was difficult," he said.
Jared Hidber, director of OneSky Community Resources, said the support created a cascading effect. "When people come together around initiatives like this, it spreads and creates a snowball effect," Hidber said in a statement.
Wang stressed the importance of residents knowing they have not been forgotten. "We cannot replace what they have lost, but we want them to know that people across our communities care and are ready to support them."
The facts
How much money did David Wang's effort raise for wildfire aid?
David Wang's initiative raised more than $50,000 to purchase and deliver supplies to residents displaced by the Bald Range wildfire.
When did volunteers deliver the supplies to the evacuation zone?
On Friday, August 14, 2026, volunteers packed six trucks and SUVs with supplies and drove them to Penticton, where they delivered them to OneSky Community Resources for distribution.
What types of items were delivered to displaced residents?
The supplies included toiletries, food, clothes, towels, and other basics for residents displaced by the Bald Range wildfire.
Who is David Wang?
David Wang is a Richmond resident and founder of Social Diversity of Children, a youth organization that led the wildfire relief effort.
