By: Jason Kazarian

American Red Cross DFW Metro West Chapter volunteers participated in the Servolution Network Good Neighbors Spring Blitz from April 11 to 12 to help make communities safer and more resilient.

They installed 43 smoke alarms in 18 homes in Azle, Saginaw, Springtown and Weatherford, helping to make 57 veterans, seniors aging in place and others safer from home fires. Tanya Webb, the Red Cross community disaster program manager, led the effort to ensure each home had a functioning smoke alarm.

“Servolution Network has the same heart as we do,” Webb said. “Helping people is central to their mission, just as it is to ours.”

Servolution Network hosts a blitz twice a year, bringing together community members to repair and restore about two dozen homes over one weekend. Shelley Vanlaningham, a regional volunteer manager with the Red Cross, helped establish the relationship with Servolution.

The partnership is mutually beneficial. Red Cross volunteers make homes in the Good Neighbors program safer with working smoke alarms. At the same time, Servolution provides emergency building supplies needed after straight-line winds and tornadoes.

“As our community has had to age in place post-COVID, the Red Cross aligns well with our mission,” said Jason Malewiski, executive director of Servolution Network.

The smoke alarm installations were part of the Sound the Alarm program, a nationwide Red Cross initiative to reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries. Through this program, volunteers install free smoke alarms, help families create escape plans, and provide fire safety education.

Servolution Network Blitzes also build relationships and strengthen collaboration between the Red Cross and other agencies that support communities before, during and after disasters. The Red Cross counts the cities of Azle and Lake Worth, the United Way of Tarrant County and Workforce Solutions North Central Texas as valuable community partners.

The impact of the most recent Blitz was overwhelmingly positive. Red Cross volunteers work alongside community supporters of all ages, including school-aged children. Webb’s son, Keaton, joined this during his spring break.

Ninety-one agencies, businesses, nonprofits and individual donors made donations and participated in the spring Good Neighbors Blitz, helping homeowners live safer, healthier and longer lives.