SHAFTSBURY
FAMILY OF FIVE LOSES HOME TO FIRE
Red Cross Volunteers
Provide Hope and Help to those Displaced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE … (Shaftsbury,
VT – June 9, 2013) Last night, a
Shaftsbury, VT family of five, including three children ages 5 to 15, lost
their home to fire. The Cleveland Avenue
blaze devastated the home, causing the family to lose everything. Red Cross disaster services volunteers with
the organization’s Bennington County Disaster Action Team took action to extend
a helping hand.
Knowing that a displaced family’s recovery begins the moment disaster
strikes, the volunteers responded quickly to determine the family’s emergency
needs. The Red Cross made arrangements
for the five to stay in a local hotel for the next few nights and provided
financial assistance to replace food and clothing lost in the fire. With these immediate needs addressed, the
trained Red Cross caseworkers set a follow up meeting for today to determine
what other forms of assistance or referrals can be offered to help in the
recovery process.
“This family, as with each family that loses their home to fire, faces a
difficult road ahead,” said Doug Bishop, spokesperson with the Vermont &
the New Hampshire Upper Valley Region of the American Red Cross. “We are thankful for the work of our
volunteers and for the support of others in the community that help ensure a
Red Cross response is there for each family in need.”
Red Cross volunteers with the 12 Disaster Action Teams throughout our
region strive to meet with disaster victims as soon as possible, ensuring that
both emotional support and immediate assistance are available. In addition to the lodging, food and clothing
support that is traditionally provided, volunteers can connect the displaced
with Red Cross disaster health and disaster mental health services and offer
referrals to state, local and charitable resources in the area that can help
the impacted residents as they begin their difficult road to recovery.
A vibrant volunteer corps helps
the organization maintain its ability to provide timely and compassionate
assistance to people across our region that have been impacted by
disaster. To be a part of our group of
dedicated volunteers, no prior experience is necessary and all the training
that is needed is free and will be provided.
To learn more about the American Red Cross volunteer experience, go to www.redcross.org/vermont or contact
Angela Russell at 802-660-9130, ext. 107 or angela.russell@redcross.org.
To help people affected by fires
as well as devastating natural disasters, a donation can be made to support
American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your
gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional
support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org, call 802-660-9130, ext.
111, or mail your contribution to American Red Cross, 29 Mansfield Avenue, Burlington,
VT 05401.
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