Winnipeggers donate to Shamattawa after blaze destroys lone store in remote community

Generous Winnipeggers dropped off donations for people in Shamattawa First Nation Friday after the remote community's sole grocery store was destroyed in a fire Thursday. 

Dozens of people donated food, water, diapers, baby formula and other essential items at the weekly Meet Me at The Bell Tower meetup on Selkirk Avenue at 6 p.m.

"There's a lot of little kids up there right now that need it," said Michael Redhead Champagne, an organizer with the meet up and founder of Winnipeg community group Aboriginal Youth Opportunities. 

Champagne put out a call for help early Friday after hearing of the blaze in his hometown community.

RCMP believe six youth were involved, one of them a 12-year-old boy who was arrested and is facing charges.

Read more about this story here:

• ​Shamattawa declares state of emergency after fire destroys only grocery store, band office
• RCMP should not criminalize' boy, 12, accused in Shamattawa fire, chief says
• Boy, 12, arrested in Shamattawa fire, but younger kids can't be charged, police say