The American Red Cross Helping Mother & Child

Salt Lake City, UTAH (Thursday, July 23, 2009) — The American Red Cross is helping a mother and child this morning after a fire burned their apartment on Foss street and 200 South in Salt Lake City. Disaster Action Team leader Shin Ho Wang of the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter said, “It was rough finding a hotel room for the family of two in the middle of the night due to the ongoing Outdoor Retailer convention in the city in addition to the 24^th of July, Pioneer Day holiday weekend. ” Wang shared, “The Red Cross was able to get the two shelter… in the very last room available at one of the hotels after about an hour of making calls. The mom was very grateful for our help.” The disaster volunteer said the fire department declared their home inhabitable due to smoke damage but the family was able to get clothing and food from their apartment. Only one unit was affected by the fire.

The American Red Cross opens shelters when larger groups are displaced from their homes to do fires, floods, evacuations or other disasters. When individuals and smaller groups of people are affected, the Red Cross places them in hotel rooms that are secured at discounted rates.

Red Cross Chapters in Utah respond to up to 200 incidents each year, some of them render multiple families homeless. Nationwide, the American Red Cross’s local chapters help victims of major and minor disasters by offering immediate comfort, which may include food, a warm place to stay, clothing and other life necessities. Volunteers give comfort kits to victims of fire, flood or other disasters. The kits include helpful items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and a toy for children.

How You Can Help: www.utahredcross.org

Help people affected by fires, like this one, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, or your local Chapter. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.