The morning of February 2, 2023, started like any ordinary morning for Helen Scherer. At around 8:00 A.M., the lifelong resident of Wichita, Kansas, was greeted by her son running out of his room announcing that the house was on fire and that they needed to exit immediately. Shocked by this news, Scherer and her son ran out of the house to discover their home engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived shortly after and began their efforts to extinguish the fire and save the home.

The mother and son went to a nearby relative’s house where they were met by an American Red Cross volunteer within an hour of the disaster. The Red Cross was not only able to provide comfort for the family, but also for other immediate needs such as clothes, meals, and medicine. American Red Cross volunteers were able to get Helen Scherer and her son settled in after they experienced this terrible disaster.

Scherer said that before her home caught fire she wasn’t aware of how much the American Red Cross did for the community and people affected by disasters. “I can’t thank the Red Cross enough for showing up so quickly and helping me during this time,” she said. Scherer encourages everyone to donate or volunteer with the Red Cross to help people who are affected by home fires and other disasters.

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 redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.