Only six weeks have passed in 2008, yet the Red Cross has been kept busy here in Kalispell.
Red Cross opens year with busy schedule
Since Jan. 1, the volunteers of the Montana Red Cross Kalispell Service Center have responded to seven single-family house fires.
On Jan. 1 and 6, there were single-family house fires in Polson, which resulted in the need for shelter, food and clothing for five residents.
Disaster volunteers also assisted a family from Bigfork that lost its home in a fire on Dec. 31.
On Jan. 5, the Red Cross was there for a family of four in Hot Springs that suffered a house fire.
An electrical fire in a home in Libby displaced a family until the rewiring could be completed.
On Jan. 22, a fire in Martin City completely destroyed a trailer home. The Red Cross assisted in providing emergency shelter, food, clothing and dog treats, while the owner searches for a new permanent residence for himself and his puppy.
Kalispell Red Cross volunteers responded to a home with a broken water pipe on Jan. 27.
Because of extensive water damage and possible asbestos contamination, the family needed assistance in finding shelter and storage containers.
Also during January, local Red Cross volunteers helped four local families with emergency communications to family members serving in the armed forces.
The Kalispell Service Center responds to Lincoln, Flathead, Lake and Sanders counties.
The American Red Cross of Montana is dependent on local support for volunteer time and funds.
Four volunteers are on call 24/7 to respond to home fires, winter emergencies, wildfires or power outages and other problems. The Red Cross is requested by the sheriff, Office of Emergency Services or the incident commander on the scene.
Another valuable service provided by the Red Cross is its armed forces emergency communications program that provides a valuable link between U.S. soldiers and their families back home. With the increasing number of service members deployed overseas, this service has never been more important.
The Red Cross helps people in emergencies every day. Whether it's helping disaster victims or teaching people how to save lives, its vital work depends on and is made possible by people like you.
To find out how you can be of service to the Red Cross and your community, contact the local office in Kalispell at 126 N. Meridian Road; 752-6433; or visit the Web site, www.montanaredcross.org.
And don't forget about the need for blood every day around the globe. You can find a list of upcoming local blood drives every day in the Daybook on page A2 of The Daily Inter Lake.