Photo: RCMP

Ashley Simpson's dad, John, donated a drone to help the MMIW look for his missing daughter.

A small but dedicated group of people are looking for more help in the search for four women from the North Okanagan and Shuswap regions who remain missing.

The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women drone search team is calling for more volunteers and better equipment in their search for Ashley Simpson, Caitlin Potts, Deanna Wertz and Nicole Bell. The remains of another woman, Traci Genereaux, were found in October by RCMP at a Silver Creek farm.

“Our team works hard, daily, for information,” said Wendy Mohr, case profiler for the civilian drone search team. “We donate our time, organize events and go on searches at our own expense.”

The team is using two drones for searches that were donated by John Simpson, the father of Ashley who has not been seen since Apr. 28, 2016, and Amanda Haverman, who held a fundraising golf tournament.

But Mohr said more help is needed.

“More volunteers, advocates, funding and searching equipment are needed.  The team would be safer and more effective with technologically-advanced drones, two-way radios, cameras, GPS trackers, high visibility vests, food, water and gas. Anything really.”

During the holiday season, people are asked to donate cash, gift cards for gas or even gift cards for Canadian Tire or Surplus Herby's.

“Even donations of used equipment in good working order would be an amazing help.  We can issue receipts for donations and post letters of thanks on our Facebook page.”

E-transfers can be sent to: [email protected] which will be deposited in the team's credit union account.