FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janice Osborne
Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
610-865-4400, ext. 262; pager: 610-830-9771
Red Cross Continues to Work with Residents Still Displaced
By N. 13th Street Disaster in Allentown; Many Allowed to Return Home
Red Cross Reminds Community It Does Not
Accept Donations of Clothing or Other Small Items
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Feb. 11, 2011) - The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley continues to work with nine residents who remain displaced by the explosion and fire in the 500 block of N. 13th Street in Allentown.
Residents living in homes on the odd-numbered side of the 500 block of N. 13th Street were allowed back into their homes today. Residents in the 600 block returned home yesterday.
As news spread about loss of lives and property, area residents, businesses, faith organizations and others began calling the local chapter asking how to help.
"Every three days on average, our chapter responds to a fire or other disaster in our community," said John R. Hughes, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. "As a charitable organization we depend on volunteers and the generosity of the general public to perform our mission of helping people in times of need. We are indebted to everyone who has made a donation to our organization to help us do what we do best - providing for the immediate emergency needs of people affected by a disaster."
Since yesterday, more than $8,200 has been donated to the American Red Cross to help those affected by this tragedy and other events. Online donations came in from as far away as Hawaii.
How to Help:
You can make a monetary donation to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley to help with our disaster relief efforts for this tragedy and other events:
- Online at www.redcrosslv.org
- By phone at 610-865-4400
- By check: payable to American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Where to donate clothing and other small items:
The American Red Cross does not accept donations of clothing, food, shoes, household items or other goods.
Though well intentioned, these donations have hidden costs and pose a storage problem for the Red Cross. However, the Red Cross partners with a number of nonprofit agencies here in the greater Lehigh Valley that do accept these items, and disaster clients are encouraged to use these resources. For example, the Salvation Army in Allentown accepts clothing; the Second Harvest food bank accepts non-perishable food items. All disaster victims receive a referral and resource directory from the American Red Cross that includes a comprehensive list of area nonprofit agencies where they can get clothing, food, furniture, and other items.
About the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley:
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 76,500 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit http://www.redcrosslv.org/.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janice Osborne
Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
610-865-4400, ext. 262; pager: 610-830-9771
American Red Cross Helps 30 Residents
Following Devastating Explosion and Fire in Allentown, Pa.
Businesses, Faith-based Organizations, Individuals Quick to
Donate Funds, Supplies to Support the Red Cross and Community
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (Feb. 10, 2011) - The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley continued its efforts today to help 13 families left homeless by last night's explosion and fire in the 500 and 600 blocks of N. 13th Street in Allentown.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones in this devastating event," said John R. Hughes, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. "In a tight-knit community as ours, we all share the heartbreak that this tragedy brings." Red Cross mental health volunteers are working closely with the families.
As of 4:15 p.m., 13 families (28 adults and two children) received assistance for lodging, food, clothing, shoes, medication replacement, blankets, toiletry items, seasonal garments and referrals for other resources. All disaster assistance is free and is provided through financial donations by the general public. The cost to shelter, feed, clothe, and provide shoes and winter garments for one adult is about $400.
The Red Cross relies on donations to help pay for disaster services. If you would like to make a financial donation to help in disasters like the one on N. 13th Street in Allentown, Pa., you can do so by: donating online at http://www.redcrosslv.org/; calling 610-865-4400 to make a credit card donation; or by making a check payable to American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017 (please indicate "local disaster relief" on the memo line).
Today, the Red Cross found itself on the receiving-end of assistance. Dozens of calls from local businesses, restaurants, hotels and faith-based organizations resulted in the delivery of pallets of water, power drinks and bulk packaged snacks to help replenish Red Cross supplies. Hotels called to offer rooms at greatly reduced rates for Red Cross clients. In addition, many individuals called to make a personal financial donation; others called to express their interest in volunteering.
"We are deeply grateful for the generosity of everyone who is supporting the Red Cross," Hughes said. "Whatever monies we receive will be used for this disaster and inevitably the next ones to follow. We always need to be prepared for what might lie ahead. Thanks to our donors, the Red Cross is assured to be there for the next family who may face a disaster."
Members of the community who have been affected by this disaster, and who still need assistance, should call the Red Cross as soon as possible at 610-865-4400.
About the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley:
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 76,500 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit http://www.redcrosslv.org/.
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