American Red Cross of RI -- 11-19-2003

SE HABLA ESPANOL
Para mas informacion en espanol favor de llamar a Gisela al telefono
(401) 831-7700 x108

PRESS CONTACT INFO

ROBIN ERICKSON
Director of Communications

PHONE
(401) 831-7700 x101
E-MAIL
[email protected]

Wednesday, November 19, 2003
RI Red Cross Family Assistance Center continuing to provide services to families

For the third day this week, the American Red Cross of Rhode Island continues to staff a Family Assistance Center at the Comfort Inn, 2 George Street, Pawtucket. Volunteers and caseworkers are available again today from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm to privately meet with families and assess their immediate needs. Any Pawtucket residents in need of assistance are asked to go to the Comfort Inn or call the RI Red Cross at (401) 831-7700 X104 or X108.

Currently, the RI Red Cross is providing 11 families with shelter at area hotels. They have placed 2 families in apartments thus far and are assisting several more families with their search for new housing. Yesterday, the Family Assistance Center helped 25 people with additional assistance such as apartment searches, groceries, meals, eyeglasses, medication and paperwork assistance. The Center remains open again today until 2:00 pm.

Financial donations are still very much in need and may made be made online at www.riredcross.org or by calling (401) 831-7700. Checks made out to the American Red Cross of Rhode Island may be mailed to 105 Gano Street, Providence, RI 02906. Those wishing to donate clothing may do so at the Salvation Army at 102 High Street in Pawtucket, where they will be held aside for Pawtucket families. Anyone interested in donating furniture may call Kristen Doyle at 270-6092.

RI Red Cross volunteers have been actively assisting residents of two other fires that occurred while the Pawtucket shelter was in operation. On Saturday evening, a fire at a single family home at 9 Longmont Street in Providence displaced 9 residents—7 of whom were children. RI Red Cross is providing this family with emergency food, clothing and shelter. On Monday evening, volunteers were called to the scene at 49 Grandview Avenue in Providence where a fire displaced 2 adults and one child. RI Red Cross is providing this family with shelter and food assistance.

It is important to note that RI Red Cross volunteers respond to a fire an average of every 11 hours. These stories often go unnoticed, yet those residents who suffer a house fire are still very much in need of assistance. The RI Red Cross provides this assistance on a daily basis and will continue to do so as they head into the busy winter season – a season in which two-thirds of all fires occur. General donations to the RI Red Cross allow the organization to assist all residents in need at a time when they have nowhere else to turn.

The Red Cross of Rhode Island typically spends $1,000 per family of four that it assists. All Red Cross assistance is free, thanks to contributions from individuals and organizations. The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on private donations to provide emergency assistance to Rhode Islanders in crisis.

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American Red Cross of Rhode Island • 105 Gano Street :: PO Box 2496 • Providence, RI 02906
(401) 831-7700 • TOLL FREE 1-800-842-1122

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