(PHOENIX) May 24, 2010 – Grand Canyon Chapter volunteers have been on the scene of an apartment fire near 31st Ave. and Peoria in Phoenix. Eight units were affected by the fire.

Ten Red Cross emergency responders made disaster assessments and met with clients who were home to determine their immediate needs. For those who were not home, Red Cross volunteers left a phone number for them to call for help when they return. The apartment manager is providing residents whose apartments burned with a temporary place to stay. Grand Canyon Chapter volunteers are providing clients with the means to obtain food, clothing, and other essentials. Volunteers also 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.