By: Evan Peterson

It was the worst breakfast Erik Arrington has ever had in his life. “A few minutes after that my wife came home from work that morning and found the house engulfed in flames!”

Arrington relives the terrifying phone call he received on September 30th, 2022, in mid-morning.

“She called me right away, my heart dropped – I thought it was a joke at first. I dropped my breakfast and booked it to the house. When I got there, firetrucks were everywhere.”

It was no joke, his home was destroyed.

While away, a fire had broken out in the family’s kitchen. Not just displacing Arrington and his wife, but also a mother and her two boys. Tenants of this home say it was the result of a faulty stove. A simple electrical malfunction now put two families on the streets.

“You all came within the hour, super-fast, and you blessed me and my family,” said Shaherra Clentscale, the mother of a 10-year-old and a two-year-old. “For the firefighters to even tell me that you all were going to help, and go the lengths that you all did – that was a blessing. A mother is not at ease unless her children are okay, and the Red Cross did that for me.”

Within hours of the fire being extinguished, the American Red Cross of Georgia helped all of those people who were displaced as a result of the fire.

“The encouraging words, telling me I was handling it well, it was helpful just hearing it. Showing that you all cared about me and my children.,” said Clentscale recalling her conversation with the Disaster Action Team member who responded to help her. “He was even telling me how to get the smoke off our clothes!”

Not only was emotional support provided, but also assistance in getting everyone back indoors and with enough help to address their immediate needs. 

“The Red Cross provided me with a plethora of services and resources to help,” says Arrington. “You gave us resources to get a hotel, clothes, food, and community contacts to help us – it was amazing. It was such a warm feeling. I had moments where I felt alone, and helpless – but the Red Cross didn’t make me feel that way. They helped me feel okay, these types of things happen, and this is why they were here. Words cannot even begin to explain.”

Roughly two weeks out from that horrible day, all those who were displaced now have a new roof over their head, are in new homes, and are back on their feet.  

“Every time I hear the words’ Red Cross' right now – I get chills, bumps, and I am so grateful. I never really knew that they responded to tragedies like this, and even as quickly as they do,” says Arrington.

Accidents happen, but all tenants involved in this say that they are better prepared for another one, should it befall them again, thanks to the Red Cross.  

“Nobody looks for these types of things to happen, but if they happen to you – there is help out there and the Red Cross is definitely number one to me.”

A new week, a new home, a new start.

“People should be supporting the Red Cross because the Red Cross supports people like me and my children when we were in need,” says Clentscale whose smile radiates over the phone. “You all did me and my family so good that if the Red Cross were to ever need anything – I’d be there.”