In the past week, Red Cross volunteers responded to ten home fires in Oregon. Our volunteers provided humanitarian assistance to 17 adults and 11 children displaced by these fires. The assistance given included immediate lodging, food, clothing, comfort kits, help acquiring replacement medications and information regarding available health and mental health services.

“So many fires, every day,” said one Red Cross volunteer. The Red Cross responds to an average of nearly 200 home fires every night, almost twice a day in Oregon.

And more Oregon families need help getting back on their feet after house fires. The American Red Cross says the spike in post-fire support is partly due to the economy. “It’s harder for families to get back on their feet because they typically don’t have as much in savings and may have dropped rental or home owner’s insurance,” said Maree Wacker, Regional Executive of the Oregon Red Cross. “When you’re cutting back expenses, those are the things that tend to be eliminated.”

Sarah C., who’s family was helped last year by the Oregon Red Cross said, “I looked around the house, firefighters in every room, put my hands to my face and cried. When the Red Cross volunteers came and offered hugs, I cried harder. When they offered stuffed animals to my kids, a place to stay and a debit card, tears streamed down my face. Never before has the term “grateful for a roof over my head” meant so much. I’m forever indebted to the Oregon Red Cross.”

All Red Cross assistance is free to those in need because of generous donations from people like you. Help your neighbors recover from disasters like home fires by making a tax-deductible donation to your local chapter.

Frank M., another individual helped by the Red Cross last year, said, “I would like to thank everyone who contributes to make the Red Cross what it is. Without the Red Cross, we would have been lost.”