As the wildfires raged all around Flin Flon at the end of May, evacuees left their homes and belongings behind as they headed to central and southern Manitoba for safety. Among those evacuees were former Killarney pastor and his wife, Darryl and Cindy Hartwig. The Hartwigs are members of the Adult and Teen Challenge team at Denare Beach, located just 20 km southwest of Flin Flon where Darryl is campus manager. The Teen Challenge students and the staff were directed to Steinbach in early June where their students could continue their program in Steinbach.
It didn't take long and the Hartwigs got word that their beloved campus and outbuildings, equipment, vehicles and belongings were overcome by the flames. The forest fire razed the campus to the ground. The group was devastated.
Now, 2 1/2 months later, they're still waiting for the insurance settlement to help determine which direction they should go.
"Our goal is to get our program started back up as soon as possible with having our students come back from Steinbach and the rest of our staff. However, you know, the big thing right now is just finding a place, we still haven't been able to do that. We've been looking at buildings and some of our executive staff were up recently too to help us with that," shares Darryl Hartwig who now holds the title of vocational manager.
"Our hope and our prayers are that we can purchase another building, and one that's good enough that we won't have to rebuild. But it's hard to do that because we haven't heard the final analysis from insurance and you know all the other stuff of course you have with insurance," he adds.
But a building is in their sites!
The ATC team has been looking in Flin Flon for the perfect fit and have actually got their eyes on a building that would benefit them in a number of ways.
"There is one option here. So, we're just really praying about that right now. An offer has been put in on the building in faith, you know, and so that's kind of where things have been left off. So, we're waiting for a response on that. But what we'd like to do is to simultaneously turn it into student living quarters, a campus, plus a thrift store all in the same building."
The Denare Beach Adult and Teen Challenge chapter is a campus for young men who are wanting freedom from addiction. It's modeled much the same as how the Brandon Adult and Teen Challenge and the Super Thrift Store, support the ATC women's campus in the Westman Region.
The northern campus near Flin Flon facilitated 10 young men with dorm accommodations, a large kitchen, classrooms and dining room. It was central to the program that offers counselling, room and board and vocational training.
"Everything was all in the one building," shares Hartwig. "So that's totally what we lost in the fire. And the program that we ran, of course, was to help those with addictions find freedom through Jesus Christ. The program was 50% academic where the students would come in and be taught how to find freedom and then the other 50% of the program was based on vocational skills."
Hartwig says many of their students in the midst of their addictions have had little work experience, if any. He says that's what's exciting about the program; it gives these young men hope for a future with work skills in the trades.
"A lot of the students that we bring in, some of them haven't worked and some of them don't know what their skills are and so we would just work with them on different projects and, you know, help them get skills. And when they graduated the program, we would certify them in at least three different areas of skills," he explains.
"We used to teach them how to run a septic truck and of course that's burned. But the other ones that we did were construction, roofing and carpentry. And also, when we get a thrift store, they would also learn how to run a store. And so, there are different options that we have to help them gain skills and also certification."
But work continues!
The team had been raising funds for a community thrift store over the past year. They were about halfway to making that happen when the devastating fire tore through the campus. But fundraising continues and for Darryl Hartwig, the work continues as well.
While the students continue their programming in Steinbach until confirmed plans are made for the Denare Beach ministry, Hartwig has been leading a skeleton crew to honor roofing contracts, construction agreements and lawn and garden care, all to continue to raise money for the mission.
He says the campus settled within the woods at Denare Beach is truly missed. It had been their home for a couple of years. But it's not just about the facility, the bricks and mortar, you might say. It's about the lives that are changed through the program, both their students, the staff, and the community that supports them through work-detail and interaction with businesses and residents in their community.
"I miss it big time running up here and I know our community misses it. And you know, I mean, it's just there's such a great need. There are so many people suffering from addiction and yeah, we just want to see people find their true freedom."
One incredible blessing has been the volunteers with Samaritan's Purse who came to help with clean up.
"The property still hasn't been cleaned off yet and so it all has to be cleaned up and leveled out. So, yeah, Samaritan's Purse is in Denare Beach right now," explains Hartwig.
"They're a phenomenal organization and they come in with all their equipment to help people. So, they did help us some already with moving some things out of sea cans that burned and they're going to come back and help us clean off the land at some point in time here. So definitely looking forward to that and we appreciate all the help that they've given to us in the community. They're just outstanding."
Related article: A Heartbreaking Loss: Wildfire claims Denare Beach Teen Challenge Campus near Flin Flon
A Fun Fundraiser is in the works!
Every summer, Adult & Teen Challenge Denare Beach holds a fundraiser that is unique to the area! They hold a rubber duck race!
The annual Rubber Duck Derby is held in early September and is the main fundraising effort for operational costs of the Denare Beach campus, where 2,000 rubber ducks are released down a slip and slide and the fastest three winning ducks win amazing prizes. With a sponsor your duck for a cost of $40, there is potential to raise a total of $100,000 for the Men's Centre. (It's important to note winners do not need to be at the race to claim their prize)
All proceeds go towards the purchase of a building for the Denare Beach Adult & Teen Challenge Ministry