Aroostook County Branch Manager
It’s 2 a.m. on a February night in rural northern Maine. The blustery wind chill outside is 10 below zero. You are snuggled down in the warm covers of your bed when the loud shrill of the smoke alarm goes off! You wake up startled! You and your wife are able to get to the bedrooms of your 4-year-old and 2-year-old children just in time to get out of the house safely before the fire spreads throughout the entire house.
A distant neighbor, coming home late from work, sees the flames and calls the fire department. You hear the sirens of the fire trucks come screaming around the corner. There you are – standing outside in your bare feet – shivering helplessly in the cold with your children in your arms. The neighbor offers you refuge at his home for the rest of the night. Sentimental items, along with everything you own, have just disappeared in a matter of minutes – furniture, clothes, treasured photos, favorite toys, even your eye glasses and prescription medicine for your 2-year-old – all gone so quickly!!
Sound devastating? Just ask anyone who has been a victim of a house fire.
Over the past few months, I have been sharing preventive tips and information about the American Red Cross services. One of the most important services the Red Cross offers is disaster relief. In less than two hours after being contacted, your local Red Cross is on the scene providing individuals and/or families with temporary financial assistance, accommodations, groceries, a few changes of clothes, medication, and replacement of necessary items such as eye glasses and even mental health support.
Red Cross services are provided by dedicated and loyal volunteers who give compassionate support during the first critical hours for those who have been victims of a disaster. Funding for victims’ needs is provided by your generous donations.
Mike Brown II, disaster services volunteer coordinator for the Aroostook County branch, laid the problem out in stark terms, “People will go without if the money is not there – it’s just that simple.”
He adds, “Aroostook County Branch of the Red Cross has responded to three house fires in just this past month. The entire Pine Tree Chapter, which has been providing supplemental funding to the county’s local office, just responded to its 99th fire in seven months – there are still five months to go in our fiscal year. The chapter has had their hands full and funding is desperately needed to ensure our community’s needs are met in time of anyone’s disaster.
“The bottom line is the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter – American Red Cross needs your help,” said Brown. “Understanding the nation’s economic situation, we are looking for businesses and organizations to consider holding fund-raisers to support the local Red Cross efforts. Ideas are welcome – anything from holding raffles, bake sales, bingo nights, dinners, along with any other innovative ways of providing community entertainment and fun while helping the Red Cross ensure funds are available for disaster victims can definitely be a win/win for all!”
Brown said right now, Aroostook County’s budget is looking very bleak.
“We need help – it’s the same small group of people who support us over and over. We need to break into a larger market for funding. Although staff and volunteers hold several fund-raisers throughout the year to gather money for operations, donations are needed more than ever to ensure disaster victims’ needs are met. It’s very concerning, especially this time of year, when so many fires are occurring. Every time volunteers go out and help after a house fire, they are doing it on the faith that the Red Cross will be provided with donations from somewhere to pay the costs. We need community support to keep doing the good things we are doing!”
Now, more than ever, people need to think SAFETY. Area residents can contact the Red Cross office at 762-5671 or their local fire department to acquire information about preventing fires and safeguarding their homes.
To make a donation or if your business would like to champion a fund-raiser for the Red Cross, please contact the office at 762-5671 or e-mail knorrj@pinetree.redcross.org. Checks may be made payable to the American Red Cross, 141 State St., Presque Isle, Maine 04769 and all donations are tax deductible. The American Red Cross has been serving the citizens of Aroostook County for over 90 years and is working hard to continue to serve the next 90 years!
