Local Red Cross volunteers Todd Johnson and Marilyn Birk serve meals to families impacted by the fire and power outage at Skyline Tower in St. Paul, Minn. Photo: Nate Russell/American Red Cross.
Every day since, responders have been connecting with residents as they recover across the Twin Cities, offering meals, listening to concerns, and finding ways to meet each person’s needs with dignity. Behind the scenes, volunteers have coordinated food deliveries, managed logistics, and worked hand in hand with community partners to keep things running smoothly.
More than 70 trained Red Cross responders, most of them volunteers from across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, have come together to support this response, each bringing compassion, skill, and heart to the work.
“We know the people need the help, and the Red Cross has the partnerships and the means to be able to provide that,” said Todd Johnson, a volunteer helping provide meals. So far, Red Cross teams have provided more than 4,100 (as of 11/3) warm meals and thousands of snacks with help from The Salvation Army and local partners. “This is the heart of what we do.”
Jeff Thelen and Matt Bellin, two of more than 70 Red Cross responders, help unload food to be served to residents affected by the Skyline Tower fire and power outage.
Photo: Sue Thesenga/American Red Cross.
Health and mental health volunteers are helping replace lost prescriptions, check on medical concerns, and offer a listening ear.
“A lot of our services revolve around helping them with that first small step. It might be just someone to help them get their medications replaced and that’s one less thing for them to have to worry about,” said Rick Larkin, who is leading Disaster Health Services. “But we also have disaster mental health volunteers, because this is super stressful for people. It’s a friendly ear; it’s a reassurance that recovery will begin soon.”
The Red Cross continues to work closely with cultural and community organizations to ensure services honor the diverse languages, traditions, and nourishment needs of Skyline Tower residents. Every act of kindness, whether it’s a shared meal, a gentle conversation, or a moment of rest, reflects the spirit of partnership that has defined this response.
“This is one of the largest responses our region has supported,” said Brice Johnson, CEO for the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region. “But more than that, it’s a reminder of what can happen when neighbors come together to care for one another.”
As parts of Skyline Tower reopen, residents are beginning to return home. “We’ll be here,” said Johnson. “In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll stand alongside residents, helping meet immediate needs, supporting them as they rebuild a sense of stability, and offering resources and reassurance that things will get better.”
How You Can Help
Support Disaster Relief. Every day, disasters like this remind us how quickly life can change and how powerful compassion can be. The Red Cross helps communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies large and small.
You can make a difference. Visit RedCross.org/MNDAKS, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767), or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a financial donation. An average of 90 cents of every dollar we spend goes toward providing care and comfort for those in need.
Put on a red vest and join us. Visit RedCross.org/GiveTime to learn how you can support your community. For disasters big and small, Red Cross volunteers provide comfort on what can be the hardest days of people’s lives.
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