Moncton shootings: Donations pour in for families of slain Mounties
$50K raised in texting campaign in one day
Donations are flooding in for the families of the three RCMP officers shot and killed this week in Moncton, N.B.
For these families the crisis continues and they need support.- Bernard Lord
A texting campaign organized by former New Brunswick premier Bernard Lord raised $50,000 in 24 hours.
"For these families the crisis continues and they need support," said Lord, who is now president of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association and head of its charitable wing.
"There's a lot of people wondering what can they do now that the crisis is mostly over. This is something they can do to help."
Anyone who wants to donate can text "Moncton" to the numbers 4-5-6-7-8. Donors will be asked to confirm a $20 donation, which will appear on their next phone bill.
Lord said all of the money raised will go directly to the families of Const. Dave Ross, Const. Fabrice Georges Gevaudan and Const. Douglas James Larche.
The three officers were gunned down on Wednesday in Moncton. Two others were injured.
Lord said the Rotary Club of Moncton and the RCMP Foundation support the texting campaign.
The RCMP has also established the Moncton Fallen RCMP Members Fund. Donations are being accepted through the official fund website.
At the same time, the RCMP are reminding people to be wary of scams that seek to capitalize on the tragedy.
They say people shouldn't donate to a Moncton-related trust fund or scholarship unless it's endorsed by the RCMP.