American Red Cross Continues Efforts to Help Victims of California Wildfires

American Red Cross Continues Efforts to Help Victims of California Wildfires

News Release: October 25, 2007
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

Financial Gifts Are Best Way to Help

As the Red Cross continues to expand its services in Southern California, many individuals and families are returning to their homes to review the damage. The Red Cross is offering a wide range of support focusing on continued sheltering for those who need it - mass feeding, distribution of clean up supplies, mental health support and limited emergency financial assistance in some areas.

People interested in helping the American Red Cross can do so by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide the essentials of emergency assistance, food, shelter, mental health counseling and other basic necessities to victims of all types of disasters. This relief is only possible through donor support and the dedication of thousands of volunteers who give freely of their time.

The American Red Cross honors donor intent. Those wishing to designate their donation to a specific disaster should do so at the time of their donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017, or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcrosslv.org or www.redcross.org.

As of midnight last night (10/24), the Red Cross had 24 shelters opened with a population of 6,001 people. The Red Cross continues to extend offers of supplies and expertise to other shelters in the area.

Here is a snapshot of other Red Cross services:

Thousands of cots, blankets and toiletry kits have arrived.
50 mobile feeding vehicles have arrived, with 25 more en route.
40 trucks full of supplies have already arrived.
Other supplies include 14,000 rakes and shovels, 3,500 work gloves, 4,000 trash bags, and 16,000 dust masks.
A large feeding kitchen is open at Petco Field to support the shelters, mobile feeding and the feeding to the emergency workers.
The Red Cross has provided over 15,000 overnight stays in its shelters.
The Red Cross has nearly 3,000 workers on site in Southern California, including volunteers from all 50 states.

Local Red Cross disaster volunteer John "Bob" Newkirk of Easton is one of nearly 100 Red Cross volunteers from Pennsylvania who went to California to assist with the relief efforts. Only Red Cross volunteers trained in national disaster response are being called to assist at this time.

However, there is always a need for local Red Cross volunteers. Residents interested in local Red Cross volunteer opportunities should call Bob Duld, director of volunteer and community services, at 610-865-4400, ext. 229.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 680,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.