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Red Cross Relief Operation Grows in Jackson
Region
[Jackson, TN] May 10, 2010 –
A new shelter
opened today in Haywood County for people impacted by the
Tennessee floods. As many as 100 people are expected to register
at 221 Morgan Street in Brownsville. The new shelter brings the
shelter total to four in western Tennessee. Two shelters remain
open in Memphis. People have also sought refuge at a shelter in
Dyersburg. Three hot meals are being served at the shelters.
The Red Cross and Southern Baptists are
partnering on a feeding operation in the Jackson region with a
capacity of serving as many as 15,000 meals a day. It’s set up
Poplar Heights Baptist Church, 1980 Hollywood Drive. Southern
Baptist volunteers prepare meals twice a day. Then, Red Cross
volunteers in mass mobile feeding vehicles deliver the hot meals
and water. So far, 8,200 meals have been served to people
impacted by the floods in this region since the floods.
“We know people are working around the clock
cleaning up the mess the floods left behind,” says Wanda
Stanfill, Jackson Area Red Cross Chapter Executive, “If we
didn’t deliver the meals and water, many people wouldn’t stop to
take a break. It’s important they take care of themselves during
this difficult process.”
Volunteers are also distributing clean-up kits
which include a broom, mop and cleaning fluids.
Additionally, damage assessment teams are in the
field identifying areas that have been hit and recording
information that will be used by Red Cross caseworkers. Soon,
caseworkers will be going door-to-door meeting with clients and
listening to their stories.
Caseworkers discuss steps in getting on the road
to recovery and provide referrals to other agencies that can
also help them along the way. Red Cross counselors and nurses
will work with the caseworkers in the field adding layers of
support.
Since floods devastated Tennessee, Red Cross
volunteers opened more than two dozen shelters and served more
than 105,000 meals and snacks throughout the state. For details
about Red Cross relief operations, visit newsroom.redcross.org.
Red Cross helps meet the immediate emergency
needs of people impacted by disasters such as the Tennessee
floods. Individuals in need of Red Cross assistance can call
1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636).
About the American Red Cross
Help
people affected by disasters like the recent tornados, by
donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On
those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses
for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for
and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red
Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other
assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS
(1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to
the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red
Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243,
Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online
contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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