Volunteers Respond to California

Since Sunday, several wildfires have swept across Southern California, destroying homes and forcing hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate. The American Red Cross was among the first on the scene responding to the wildfires, providing food, shelter, counseling and other emergency assistance made possible, in part, by the financial support from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program.

As winds are forecasted to spread flames across the state over the next several days, the Red Cross will remain on the ground providing emergency assistance. In the coming weeks, the Red Cross will continue working with community partners to identify resources that can aid in the recovery of individuals and families affected by the wildfires.

Eight disaster volunteers have left the Upstate en route to San Diego to join the 3,000+ Red Cross workers already there providing relief. Four of our volunteers will be providing Mass Care services of sheltering and feeding; Three more will provide client casework assisting evacuees determine their disaster-caused need; and one will provide her skills as a Red Cross nurse. All of our volunteers give of their time knowing they are facing a three-week deployment.

If you would like to get involved in this relief operation, you can make a financial contribution through this chapter securely on-line by logging onto www.upstatescredcross.org, or by stopping by the chapter. If you wish to directly impact the lives of future victims, call the Upstate Chapter today at 271-8222 and sign up for training in disaster services.