Teddy Allen lost everything he owned in the Eaton Fire that has devastated communities in Altadena. He evacuated in only the clothes he was wearing. He had his cell phone but no charger.
He knew the Red Cross would help and made his way to a shelter as soon as he learned it opened. “The Red Cross just knew what I needed,” he said.
Teddy took advantage of services like disaster spiritual care from a Red Cross ‘chaplain’ who made daily morning visits. The support, he said, was provided with respect and compassion, helping him process what he was going through.
Now, the Red Cross is helping people like Teddy through relief in the form of cash. This ‘immediate assistance’ will help him meet basic needs, such as replacing hygiene products specific to his care or clothing items that are a good fit for his body like XXXL shirts, shoes and underwear.
Looking forward to starting his life over, he said, “The Red Cross has given me hope.” He’s even helped others – paying it forward by providing guidance and support when another man checked in to the shelter. He, too, lost everything and had specific needs that cash relief could support.
If you’ve been impacted by the California wildfires and received a message or call from a Red Cross representative, please follow the steps outlined in the message or visit redcross.org/gethelp. If you’re unsure about outreach, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767).
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