Twenty people were assisted after their home fires last weekend.
The Christmas holiday did not bring tidings of comfort and joy for some area families… it brought ashes and sadness.
· On Friday, December 23, there was a fire on Butler Street in Peoria. The Red Cross responded and helped the family of eight.
· On Saturday, December 24, there was a fire on Crystal Avenue in Bartonville. The Red Cross helped the family with their emergency needs and also worked with PAWS to provide shelter for their 5 dogs. There was also a fire in Pekin on Christmas Eve. Red Cross volunteers are still trying to get in touch with the family to see how we can help.
· On Sunday, December 25, there was a fire in Wyoming, IL. Red Cross volunteers were there that morning to help the family with their emergency needs. Also, on Christmas Day, there was a fire on Lauder Court in Bartonville. The Red Cross responded to the fire, but the thankful family declined any assistance.
· On Monday, December 26, there was another fire in Peoria on Mohawk Trail. The Red Cross assisted the family.
Trained volunteers meet the immediate emergency needs of these families by providing food, shelter, clothing and health and mental health services to address their basic human needs. Red Cross volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to reach out to our neighbors in need.
“We are so thankful for our Red Cross volunteers who often give up their own holidays with their families so that they can respond to a local home fire,” says Anne Fox, CEO of the Central Illinois Chapter. “And, we are so grateful to our community. Their gifts of goodwill and kindness enable the Red Cross to respond whenever and wherever we are needed.”
Ashley Bauer, Emergency Services Outreach and Education Coordinator, was on-call over the Christmas weekend and met with many of the families. “Fires don’t take a break during the holiday season,” says Bauer. “No one wants to see a family go through a home fire, especially on Christmas. I am just glad that I was able to help the families.”
For more information on how to prevent a home fire or to give a gift of support to the local Red Cross, please visit www.redcrossillinois.org.