By Bill Thawley

When fire tore through a 125-year-old Easton, Pennsylvania apartment building last June, more than 30 people were left facing uncertainty. Among them was Debra Kindervatter, who returned home from a trip out of town to find her apartment condemned and her belongings damaged by smoke. By then, the American Red Cross had already mobilized to provide care and comfort to the affected residents.

“I was very thankful for the quick assistance provided by the Red Cross,” Kindervatter said.

Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers connected with Kindervatter to provide financial assistance and resources to help her recover. She used the support to pay for a place to stay and meals while she arranged for temporary housing. In the days and weeks that followed, Red Cross volunteers continued to check in, helping her make a plan to move forward.

“I was really impressed with [the Red Cross caseworker] and her reaching out to me. She was very caring,” Kindervatter said.

A former museum curator and volunteer with organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Kindervatter said she has always valued volunteer service — and believes the Red Cross response embodied its mission.

“The Red Cross certainly fulfilled its mission,” she said. “Their response exemplifies the Red Cross mission in action.”

Kindervatter also expressed gratitude for the quick response of local police and firefighters, who helped residents retrieve some of their belongings.

Now in temporary housing, Kindervatter hopes to find a permanent home soon. She said the compassion she received during such a difficult time has her considering volunteering with the Red Cross once she’s resettled.

“I can’t say enough about the professionalism and assistance I received,” she said.

While large disasters often dominate headlines, the Red Cross responds to home fires and other local emergencies about 175 times a day. From offering a shoulder to cry on, to providing shelter or supplies, to connecting people with financial assistance, local Red Cross volunteers ensure that families don’t have to face tough times alone. To join the Disaster Action Team in your community, visit redcross.org/volunteer. Free online training is provided.