Regina residents collecting for Fort McMurray evacuees

A Regina group is collecting donations for evacuees from the Fort McMurray wildfire.

The group is simply a bunch of friends who were moved to take action.

Local pub owner Niall O'Hanlon helped lead the cause and was collecting items at the Farmer's Market on Saturday.

"It's the right thing to do. It's our neighbours. They're just right there. It could happen anywhere," O'Hanlon said.

The group was collecting essentials like toothbrushes, deodorant, underwear and socks.

On Monday, the friends who have trucks are going to drive the donations to Edmonton for distribution.

O'Hanlon said the group decided to take action while having a pint together.

"We said, 'Well we've done it before, we may as well do it again,'" he said. "It's a very effective, direct way of getting stuff to the people that need it."

O'Hanlon said they weren't planning on accepting financial donations, but people "just keep giving us cash."

He said money will be donated to the Red Cross or used to purchase donation items like the ones they are collecting.

Donations are still being accepted tomorrow, at the Fat Badger at 1852 Scarth St. in Regina.