American Red Cross Riverside County Chapter
American Red Cross Riverside County Chapter
Greetings!

Thanks to our donors' support, the Red Cross has covered its costs for California wildfires.
girl in shelter California Wildfires
For nearly a week, wildfires have ripped across Southern California, scorching thousands of acres from the Malibu coast to the San Diego shores. As these fires encroached upon communities, homes were reduced to ashes, lives were threatened and hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated, seeking shelter from the flames.
 
As with every disaster to which the Red Cross responds, our work is made possible by the generous donations of supporters like you.  And as a trusted partner in disaster relief, I'm writing to inform you that the Red Cross has determined that current financial donations and pledges will cover our costs to provide shelter, food, counseling and more to the survivors of these wildfires, estimated not to exceed $12 - 15 million. 
 
We are encouraging all our supporters to fulfill their pledged gifts, including completing special events, corporate matching gifts and customer and employee donation programs currently underway, because these donations are critical to the decision the Red Cross has made in this determination.
In Shelter Generous Financial Support
The generous financial support has allowed nearly 4,000 Red Cross disaster relief workers - more than 90 percent of them volunteers - to ensure that survivors have shelter, food, comfort and the means to provide essential items for themselves and their families.  Survivors are receiving clean-up supplies, counseling, basic healthcare and family connecting services.  The Red Cross opened 26 shelters, providing a safe place to stay to approximately 6,000 people at the peak of the fires.  Red Cross mental health workers have also been available to provide emotional support and help those uprooted from their homes deal with their fears and anxieties.
 
In Riverside County, your local Red Cross opened 5 shelters and served 800 individuals.
 
fire fighters RC with Client
fire man Long-Term Recovery
In the coming weeks and months, the Red Cross will work with community partners to identify resources to aid in the long-term recovery of individuals and families affected by the wildfires.  As their needs evolve over the next several days and weeks, the Red Cross will continue to help them through this process. 
 
You can continue to support future disaster relief efforts by donating to the either the National Disaster Relief Fund or the Local Relief Fund for Riverside County.  Generous gifts to these funds enable the Red Cross to provide food, shelter and counseling to the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year.  These funds ensure, just as it did in Southern California, that help is immediately available in every community across the United States. 
You can use the below links to make a secure on-line donation.
 
The American Red Cross is extremely grateful for the compassion shown to the residents of Southern California by our generous supporters.  We're grateful for the work of our dedicated volunteers!
 
Sincerely,
 
Pam Sig
Pamela A. Anderson
CEO
American Red Cross Riverside County Chapter