As the only child at the Alpine Recreation Center shelter, 5 year old Alexia Shanklin, left, didn't hesistate to ask Red Cross shelter staff to play with her. LA Region's Chief Executive Officer, Joanne Nowlin, right, was among those who happily complied. Photos by Mimi Teller/American Red Cross.
By Saida Pagan/American Red Cross
Alexis Duncan had always heard that the American Red Cross provided support to people in disasters, but the Los Angeles resident never fully understood the true importance of the Red Cross mission until the morning she and her family awoke to a raging fire.
Duncan and her five-year-old daughter Alexia were among the more than 50 people affected by an early morning fire that engulfed five structures in LA’s Chinatown district. Although Duncan and her daughter escaped unharmed, nearly all of their possessions were destroyed.
“It started in the building behind us and just spread from that building to ours,” Duncan recalled. “I lost my living room furniture and my bed. There was a lot of smoke damage and a lot of fire and water damage.”
LA Red Cross volunteers rushed to the scene and quickly mobilized. They provided food and water to the displaced residents and assured them that they would receive additional assistance. The Red Cross then coordinated with City officials to transport Duncan, her child and several others to a designated emergency shelter a few blocks away. Once there, the Red Cross rendered the level of care, comfort and kindness that the organization is known for.
“They were very helpful to me and my daughter,” Duncan said, describing the Red Cross response. “They gave us shelter for a couple of days. They gave us cots. They fed us and our dogs and gave us clothing, money and a list of resources.”
Alexis Duncan escaped her Bunker Hill apartment with only her daugther, their three dogs and pet rat Marshmallow. While shelter staff kept her daughter occupied, Duncan tended to the family pets.
With the Red Cross ready to support Duncan on a personal and emotional level in those critical first days, she was able to concentrate on the task of finding short-term housing a few cities away. Alexis is now back in school, and the family is getting ready to move into a new apartment not far from their previous home.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Duncan says that in spite of the devasting experience, at the end of the day, she and her daughter are fortunate to have survived the blaze and she’ll keep hope alive. Duncan credits the efforts of the Red Cross for helping to make their journey towards rebuilding far less challenging than it might otherwise have been.
“I feel very positive about the Red Cross. They’re wonderful,” Duncan said. “They make sure you’ve got all the resources you need. It was a blessing for me and for anybody else who goes through (a similar situation), it would be a blessing for them, too. I definitely support the Red Cross 100 percent.”
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives. Discover the role that's right for you and join us today!
