Calgary reception centre to remain open until Monday

The number of evacuees who have arrived in Calgary nearly doubled Thursday – and people forced from their homes in Jasper are still coming.

It will take time until people are allowed back into town but Calgary groups and businesses are banding together to support evacuees.

As the wildfire quickly approached Jasper, evacuees had just hours to grab what they could before leaving.

And Calgary has become a landing spot for hundreds of evacuees.

The city's evacuation reception centre saw 960 people as of Friday morning.

People grabbed the most important things, including their pets.

Parachutes for Pets has received more than 500 calls this week.

They're providing food, supplies and shelter, if needed.

Also helping get people through: dozens of businesses and charities.

From free passes at recreation centres to meals at restaurants and glasses at eye centres, evacuees are being helped in many ways.

But with that generosity comes a caution:

"We just want to remind everyone to, before they open their heart and wallet, just to take an extra moment, or just to verify the individual or the organization that they're planning to give to just to make sure that they are who they say they are," said Odeta Doroftei with the Better Business Bureau.

The help is welcomed by those evacuated.

"They were offering clothes and stuff because, you know, a lot of our friends don't have family here, so they had nowhere to go," said Jasper evacuee Aiden Lloyd Perez.

The evacuation centre at Shouldice Arena, 1515 Home Road N.W., will remain open throughout the weekend.

Originally, the city was considering closing it Friday but they're still seeing evacuees come by to register and get help.

Calgary will keep it open 24 hours a day until at least Monday.

This evacuation centre is not accepting donations.

Instead, people are asked to email [e-mail].

And Parachutes for Pets is gathering pet supplies and money at their location.

Those who have fled Jasper and arrived in Calgary can call the organization's Angel Team line at [phone] for help, including the delivery of pet hampers and supplies, animal safekeeping and vet care for those suffering from the smoke and heat.

Both the federal and provincial governments say they will each match donations to the Red Cross for the next 30 days.