(MESA) June 13, 2010 – The Grand Canyon Chapter of the American Red Cross responds to a disaster every 15 hours. Most of them are house or apartment fires. Today is no exception. Volunteers responded to an apartment fire on South LeBaron in Mesa to help their neighbors in need.

Our Disaster Action team of seven volunteers made damage assessments to determine their immediate needs. The Red Cross is providing 23 people with a safe place to sleep for the night. We’re also providing the clients with the means to buy food and clothing. Volunteers passed out teddy bears to the children and comfort kits to the adults. The comfort kits include a comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and soap.

Over the next several days, our client services volunteers and staff will monitor the fire victims 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.