In the past month, we have faced destruction and hardship from some of the most severe weather our community has ever seen. It is times like this that we see our community truly come together, united in our efforts to help our neighbors. Your American Red Cross is proud to have been a part of that, working with community partners to provide shelter to those displaced by the June storms. The American Red Cross is truly appreciative of our compassionate and tireless volunteers, the heart of our organization, who stepped up to help others during this time.
To efficiently meet the needs of the 268 displaced clients from various areas within our community, we enlisted the aid of 81 volunteers to manage our disaster relief operation. Of the volunteers who humbly gave of their time and service to the shelter, 71 were Red Cross disaster-certified volunteers and 10 were spontaneous community volunteers who, even in the face of their own struggle, came forward to serve the greater need in the community. Whether they were welcoming clients into the shelter or serving them hot meals at dinnertime, their dedicated service and enduring hope demonstrated during the disaster relief mission will not soon be forgotten.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all who were involved in creating a successful shelter to house the many displaced disaster victims in our community. In addition to our volunteers, the staff and congregation of the First Assembly of God Church opened their doors and their hearts to shelter anyone who needed a safe place in the aftermath of the storms and during the dangerously high heat.
The American Red Cross receives no financial support from the government and is only able to provide shelters through the generosity of the American public, including all those who made financial donations to assist with local relief efforts. It costs more than $1,000 each day to operate a shelter where those affected by disaster can seek safety, comfort, nourishment and help getting back on the road to recovery. For this disaster, local donors responded contributing more than $1,000 in support of these efforts. In addition, local businesses also contributed well more than $5,000 worth of materials including food, serving supplies and more. Even with those generous donations, the Red Cross of Northeast Indiana spent more than $7,000 to operate the shelter after these storms. You can help today by donating or becoming a volunteer. Please call 260-484-9336 or visit www.redcross.org to learn more.
With the unwavering commitment of volunteers, donors and local partners including Indiana & Michigan Power, the City of Fort Wayne and the Allen County Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross strives to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. It is times like this that our community shows its true colors – those of concern, care and action – and makes us all proud to call Northeast Indiana home.
KATHERINE MacAULAY
Chief Operations Officer
American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana
