Displaced Saskatchewan family longs for home

It has been almost three weeks since Margaret Morin slept in her own bed. She has been living in a hotel in Prince Albert for the past 18 days.She had to leave La Rongein a rush.

"I forgot all my pills, everything, so I had to get everything renewed here in P.A.," said Morin. "I just grabbed whatever wecould. We grabbed our clothes, we left everything. But we managed to grab the dogs," she addedwith a chuckle.

Morin has been checking in with the Red Cross. "They're very helpful. We very much appreciate what they do for all the evacuees," she said. "Workers here are really nice and help out a lot."

But it's not an easy wait.

• Plans to return home fluid for many wildfire evacuees

"It's nothing the same as being at home where the kids can run freely outside and play," said Morin. "Here they can't do anything. They're pretty well stuck in a room." Her grandson has asthma and stays indoors most of the time.

Morin said she is preparing to wait for awhile.

It's nothing the same as being at home where the kids can run freely outside and play- Margaret Morin, evacuee from La Ronge

"It doesn't look good," Morin said, adding that she has to take things day by day. "It is quite hard. But I hope soon, is all I can say."

Some people staying in the shelters have told CBC that they find it hard to sleep with so many people around them, or struggle with the noise.

But others also note a sense of community building among evacuees.

Natalie Guimondhas been volunteering at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre since the first day it was opened as a shelter.

She said it has been difficult for the evacuees. But she tries to help people some direction during the uncertainty.

Helping evacuees have a sense ofcommunity

"It comes down to really being there for people, listening," said Guimond.

She gave an example of trying to help a 22-year-old man from La Ronge who wasn't familiar with Prince Albert. She asked him if he could do any odd jobs.

"And his spirits began to be very lifted," said Guimond. She suggested he look for odd jobs, and heidentified some of his skills in forestry, carpentry and cleaning.

"It's really finding something that's a common ground for that person and putting the spotlight on them so that they can say, 'You know what? I can take this time and focus my skills. Focus my attention into the community. I can be connected.'"