GENEROUS donors HELP RED CROSS MEET FUNDRAISING NEEDS for ANGORA WILDFIRE relief

by Kati Garner | July 4, 2007 at 07:43 am

793 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

Red Cross Thanks Supporters and Continues Helping Community

[SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA] July 3, 2007 – Due to the extraordinary
generosity of the public, the American Red Cross believes that current
financial donations and pledges in the pipeline and customer donation
efforts, like those currently underway at Raley’s, Safeway and Bank of
America will be sufficient to cover the estimated costs of its response
to the wildfires that have devastated the Lake Tahoe community since
June 24, 2007. Donors rushed to meet the needs of those affected by
this tragedy, and because of their quick and generous action, the Red
Cross was able to meet immediate needs of disaster victims by providing
a safe place to stay, warm meals and counseling. A Red Cross Service
Center remains open to help those who need emergency assistance.

The Red Cross is committed to informing the public when it has
raised sufficient funds to cover the costs of a disaster relief effort.
The financial donations and pledges received to date will cover the
estimated $395,000 cost for the Red Cross response to the Angora
Wildfire. The Red Cross will no longer initiate fundraising activities
for this disaster response.

“Many donations for the Angora Wildfire victims remain in ‘pledge’
form and, while not yet received by the Red Cross, have been
incorporated into funds available for the relief effort” said Diane
Thomas, Disaster Fundraising Manager. “It is important for supporters
to fulfill their gifts so we can fulfill our commitments to the South
Lake Tahoe community.” Other Organizations that have contributed to
this relief effort are Jackson Rancheria, LDS Church, Wells Fargo,
PG&E, Kaiser Permanente, Atlantis Casino, Juniper Technology, Kraft
Foods, Sierra Pacific Power, Mr. & Mrs. Boitano, the Jay Leno
Foundation, and American Express.

Public support for this relief effort enabled nearly 160 Red Cross
disaster workers from across the country to be at the disaster site
providing more than 8,000 hot meals and snacks, care and comfort to
those affected. Red Cross mental health volunteers are providing
emotional support from formal counseling to a friendly ear for more
than 2,000 families or individuals who endured the fire. We had nurses
on-site who provided health services to those who needed them,
including emergency replacement of prescription medicines and eyewear.
We distributed bulk supplies of water, food, clean-up kits and other
useful emergency items to affected residents. Many of these supplies
were donated by concerned businesses and we are very grateful for their
support.

“The American Red Cross would like to thank those businesses and
individuals that stepped up to help out their neighbors during this
devastating time,” said Vic Hencken, Disaster Relief Job Director. “We
are also grateful for our generous volunteers from around the country,
who enable us to use donations efficiently – putting no less than 91
cents of every dollar donated towards direct relief. We must continue
to focus on getting that immediate disaster assistance to people to
ensure they have shelter and food.”

A Red Cross Service Center, located at Lake Tahoe Community
College, is open to provide emergency assistance to the individuals and
families who had to evacuate due to the Angora Wildfires. Trained
volunteer caseworkers are on hand from 9 am to 5 pm each day to work
with affected residents one-on-one to assess their immediate disaster
needs. Assistance may include providing disaster victims with the means
to pay for what they need most – from groceries, new clothing, and rent
to emergency home repairs, transportation, household items and
medicines. The Red Cross also provides counseling and referrals to
other resources.

In the coming weeks and months, the Red Cross will work with
community partners to identify resources that can aid in the long-term
recovery of individuals and families affected by the wildfires. As
their needs change and evolve over the next several days and weeks, the
Red Cross will continue to help them through this process.

The Red Cross asks people who have not yet given to this relief
effort to support the ongoing needs of South Lake Tahoe residents by
giving to the countless other charities and non-profit organizations
that continue to raise funds for wildfire relief and recovery efforts.
In addition, the public’s continued support is essential to the
American Red Cross Sacramento Sierra Chapter, which provides lifesaving
support in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento,
Tuolumne, East Yolo and East Nevada Counties every day. Volunteers were
able to have an evacuation center open within hours of the start of
Angora Fire only because of the on-going support of local residents who
provide the financial support to keep us prepared to respond 24 hours a
day/7 days a week. Support of the Disaster Relief Fund is also vital
because it enables the Red Cross to respond quickly to other large
disasters, like the current flooding in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas,
whenever and wherever they strike.