(PHOENIX) May 23, 2010 – Grand Canyon Chapter volunteers stopped what they were doing to help two families following home fires in Yavapai County on Sunday. One fire was in Chino Valley. The other was in Dewey.

Two Red Cross emergency responders made disaster assessments and met with the clients to determine their immediate needs. The Red Cross will ensure everyone has a safe place to sleep. Also, Grand Canyon Chapter volunteers are providing five people with the means to obtain food, clothing, and other essentials. Volunteers passed out comfort kits which include a comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and soap.

Over the next several days, Grand Canyon Chapter caseworkers will monitor the clients and provide referrals, as they begin their road to recovery.

The Grand Canyon chapter responded to 534 disasters during our last fiscal year. The Red Cross is able to meet the immediate needs of our neighbors in need through the generous support of Arizonans. If you would like to make a donation to help victims of a local disaster like this one, please call 602-336-6660 or go to www.arizonaredcross.org. ###

About the American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter The American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter is where volunteers from across central, western and northern Arizona come together to help people in need every day. The volunteer-led organization serves more than 5.2 million people in communities across Apache, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma counties. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies 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 financial generosity of Arizona neighbors to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.arizonaredcross.org or call 1-800-842-7349. To give blood, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.