Friday, February 26, 2010

relief

below is a blog i wrote about a fire i went out on this week, enjoy.


When asked what it feels like to have the Red Cross help you after a fire, Alicia Klute replied in one simple word.

"Relief."

"It was relieving to know that since I don't have insurance, that if I needed help the Red Cross would be able to help me," Alicia said.

For Alicia's three year old son, Conlee, relief came in the form of a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal and a rice krispy treat.

The Klute's were able to take refuge from the bitter cold in the Red Cross's Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) while firefighters fought the fire that broke out this morning in their neighbors apartment. It's here in the ERV where our Disaster Action Team Volunteers can talk to families and offer them Red Cross assistance.

Assistance comes in many forms- helping with immediate needs like food, clothing and shelter. It also comes in forms of the heart through comfort and care. From a warm cup of coffee to a hug our volunteers excel at offering our clients what matters most- compassion.

Thanks you to our awesome volunteers who responded to this morning's two apartment fires in subzero temperatures: Ed Schwartz, Bill Dreyfus, Joe Zaki and Kim and Amy Burns.

It's their compassion that is turned into action that allows the Red Cross to serve those in need in the Omaha metro every single day.

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of Omaha metro residents to respond to our neighbors who are affected by home fires. You can help the Red Cross continue to be ready to respond and help fire victims by making a financial contribution to Heartland Chapter today.

To make a financial donation, visit www.redcrossomaha.org, call 402.343.7700, or mail a check to 2912 S. 80th Ave, Omaha, NE 68124.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires.

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