A shelter for residents displaced by an apartment fire early Saturday morning on the 3600 block of Lancaster Lane in Plymouth is opening at Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church, 5530 42nd Ave. N, Robbinsdale, MN, 55422, starting at noon on Tuesday, April 4.
During a disaster, the American Red Cross provides safe shelter, food, emergency relief supplies, emotional support, health services and recovery assistance to those in need. Following home fires, the Red Cross connects with people impacted and provides emergency assistance, such as food, relief items, health and mental health services, and one-on-one support to connect people to available recovery assistance.
Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status, and all disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the disaster. Our workers strive to treat everyone who comes to us with dignity and respect. The Red Cross helps people with a wide range of needs, including those with disabilities, mental illnesses, chronic health concerns and older adults.
Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere, help stay safe by testing your smoke alarms each month and practicing your home fire escape plan until everyone in your household can escape in two minutes or less.
Local response help needed
Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers help families with their immediate needs after a fire in their home and offer support during a very difficult time. As a DAT team member, you will provide emotional support, access to financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover. DAT team members respond to emergencies to provide immediate compassion and care. Training will be provided.
“Our Red Cross volunteers support their community and neighbors in need each and every day by responding to local emergencies,” said David Kunzelman, Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region. “In the past year, we've responded to more than 1,000 incidents in our region. We need more help, so no one faces these heartbreaking situations alone.”
Please consider joining the Red Cross as a volunteer today and bring help and hope to people in need. Find out more at redcross.org/givetime.
People can also download the free Red Cross Emergency App for safety tips, severe weather alerts and a home fire quiz. For children, the Monster Guard App is a fun, interactive game that teaches home safety and fire prevention. Download the apps by searching “American Red Cross” in your mobile app store or by going to redcross.org/apps.