April is National Volunteer Month.
This Week, OEM Thanks the Red Cross House Volunteers
April 24, 2016
When an emergency occurs or disaster strikes, people’s lives change in an instant. No matter the size and type of the incident, it is personal to those affected.
People who find themselves displaced after a disaster, like a house fire or flooding, ask themselves; what’s next, where can I go, who can I turn to, how do I piece my life back together?
The Red Cross House provides an answer.
Located at 40th Street and Powelton Aveneue in University City, the Red Cross House gives individuals or families in Philadelphia and surrounding areas a place to stay while they begin to get their lives back on track.
For 13 years, the Red Cross House has witnessed the resiliency of those affected by fires and unforeseen disasters by providing housing and ongoing support to them.
According to the Red Cross, the recovery process can take 3-6 months and unfortunately separates family members sometimes. The Red Cross House provides a welcome alternative where families can stay together and rebuild their lives in three weeks.
The Red Cross works closely with the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management and the Philadelphia Fire Department to ensure displaced families have a safe place to turn to when disaster strikes.
All of this is accomplished through the generosity of donations and time given by volunteers. In Philadelphia alone, there are 2,000 people who call themselves “Red Cross Volunteers“. Volunteers account for 90% of those within the Red Cross organization in Philadelphia.
April is a special month for the Red Cross House as it marks the anniversary of its opening which happened in 2003.
Tuesday, April 26, will be a special day for it as the City will celebrate the Red Cross House at a ceremony with a proclamation thanking the organization and its volunteers for its unselfish work to help others.
Impact
Since 2003, the Red Cross House has assisted more than 4,361 families. That is almost 14,000 people spending over 232,000 nights at the Red Cross House.
Since Red Cross House is not a shelter, residents receive:
- Their own room, complete with bathroom and kitchenette
- Three meals a day
- A caseworker assigned to work with them on creating and implementing a unique recovery plan
- A safe, locked facility with 24 hour security, including a locked storage area for their belongings
- Convenient University City location with easy access to public transportation
- Mental health and spiritual counseling
- Indoor and outdoor play areas
- Access to computers and the internet for job and housing searches along with educational attainment
- Fire safety and prevention, financial literacy, tenant rights, tutorial searches for children and other recovery related workshops
- ALL services are FREE of charge.
In 2014-2015, the Eastern Chapter of the American Red Cross, which includes Philadelphia:
- Responded to 1,287 local disasters
- Trained 44,590 people in disaster preparedness…
- Provided case services for 2,928 active duty family….
- Helped 1,832 families recover from disaster.
- Taught 1,875 students through 25 Red Cross clubs
- Provided financial assistance to 5,344 individuals
To donate to the Red Cross or volunteer, please visit their website. Follow the Red Cross on Twitter. Like them on Facebook.