Volunteers disaster responders with the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois assisted approximately 80 residents of two senior citizen homes in Kankakee County after a storm caused power outages in the area. The Red Cross provided canteen services, including water and snacks.
In addition, volunteers responded to 24 fires across the region in the past week, including a fire in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood that resulted in the loss of life and affected more than a dozen people. Our volunteers helped three families with temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits with toiletry items, information about recovery services and health and mental health services.
Since last Monday, June 24 Red Cross volunteers assisted a total of 122 individuals including 87 adults and 35 children affected by home fires in Park Forest, Lena, Rockford, Riverdale, Aurora, Sterling, Lindenhurst, Beecher, Steger and Chicago. The American Red Cross responds to 3 to 4 home fires every day in Chicago and Northern Illinois and it is the commitment of our volunteers that allows us to provide relief to those affected by fires and other disasters.
On Saturday, volunteers were out in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood installing free smoke alarms on the anniversary of the tragic fire that claimed the lives of 10 children. The American Red Cross in partnership with the Little Village Community Council installed 142 smoke alarms in 55 homes.
The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan. For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/prepare.
This weekend, Red Cross volunteers also participated in activities for World Refugee Day providing first aid information and educating the community about the Red Cross Restoring Family Links Program. Volunteers with this program work around the globe to reunite family members that have been separated by conflicts, disasters or migration.
Meanwhile, Red Cross volunteers were part of the parade during the Build Summer Opportunity Street Fest in Chicago. The American Red Cross provided information about fire safety and set up an emergency tent to provide first aid if needed.
HOW YOU CAN HELP You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Call, click, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. To donate by check or to a specific cause, please complete this donation form by printing and mailing to your local Red Cross chapter.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.