As temperatures continue to drop across the state of South Carolina, we have seen and responded to more fires. That includes several apartment fires in the Charleston area.

In early November, disaster-trained volunteers with the American Red Cross helped more than 30 people after an apartment fire along Ashley Crossing Drive in West Ashley. Over a dozen units were damaged. 

Brittany Snelson and her children were one of the families impacted.

“It was hard to see your entire life, everything you worked for, just destroyed. It was gone,” said Snelson. “To walk in and see where your kids were sleeping and there was no ceiling over it. Their beds, everything they had was ruined.”

Snelson said most of the damage to their home was caused by water damage after much of their roof was destroyed.

“We all just stood there and cried because it is like watching your entire life, everything that you have worked hard for, is just gone,” said Snelson. “I never thought this would happen to us, ever. It was rough, it is still rough.”

A Red Cross of South Carolina volunteer reached out to Snelson quickly after the fire and assured her that help was on the way. Volunteers were able to provide Brittany and her family with financial assistance for immediate needs likes food, clothing and a place to stay.

I was immediately able to go and buy clothes and food to keep us going for the first couple of days,” said Snelson. “To just be able to function for a few days without having to worry about financial stability, that was the help that made me feel better as a mom.”

While Snelson worked with her insurance company, Red Cross team members continued to check in on her and the other families impacted.

“My children have something to sleep on because of the Red Cross. They are wearing clothes that were not what we had in the apartment because of the Red Cross. We have food and groceries because of the Red Cross. Everything that we have right now is because of the Red Cross,” said Snelson.

In addition to immediate needs, Red Cross team members are providing virtual mental and spiritual care assistance to anyone that may need it.

“You all should be wearing Red Cross capes, I am serious. You really should,” said Snelson. “I am more than thankful, more than thankful."

HOW TO HELP Help people affected by disasters and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.  People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

BECOME A VOLUNTEER To join us, visit redcross.org today to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application. 

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.  The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/SC or @RedCrossSC