A home fire on April 9th could have been a life-altering day for Yasmeen Atkerson and her family. Thanks to working smoke detectors, alert family members, and the quick work of Philadelphia Firefighters, her family escaped safely.
That evening as she was struggling to find hotel accommodations, Yasmeen received a call from the American Red Cross asking what she needed. She explained that she needed to find housing for herself, her 6-year-old daughter, her disabled mother, and her significant other.
Fortunately, there was availability at the Red Cross House in Philadelphia. This facility is a one-of-a-kind disaster recovery space in America that offers housing, basic needs, and support to disaster victims. The goal of the Red Cross house is to provide resources in a safe and comfortable environment while victims develop a recovery plan in the aftermath of a disaster.
Yasmeen’s family stayed at the Red Cross House for ten days, including the Easter holiday. While Yasmeen appreciates the shelter’s meals and other resources, she is especially thankful to the Red Cross volunteers for making the Easter holiday special for her daughter by providing an Easter basket and taking the time to color eggs with her.
Yasmeen and her family are glad to be back in their home now but will always remember the Red Cross house. The thoughtfulness of the volunteers added cheer to an otherwise stressful situation and the support helped them to navigate disaster recovery planning.
Families like Yasmeen’s are the inspiration for the Red Cross House which serves more than 300 families per year. Each family is assigned a caseworker to help them create and implement a recovery plan while also providing basic needs such as meals, access to medical help, and computers. Additionally, special attention is given to children with a playroom, a playground, and stuffed animals to call their own.
Volunteers and donors are the heart of what makes the Red Cross House possible. You can learn more about the Red Cross house HERE.
- By Terri Seydel