ST. GEORGE — Donations are being accepted beginning Sunday for 20 people who have been permanently displaced after a fire consumed four mobile homes Saturday afternoon at the Grandview Mobile Home Park at 425 E. 900 South in St. George.
The American Red Cross is currently assessing the needs of the four affected families who have lost everything from beds to clothes to sentimental belongings. Through follow-up case work, individual oriented “action plans” are being put together to help those in need, Disaster Services Program Manager Paul Dunsdon said.
“This particular incident is a unique case to this area because of the amount of people affected,” Dunsdon said. “In most cases there will be a single family affected by a fire or a community affected by a flood. But these people lived in a tight-knit area.”
Read more here: Flames engulf four mobile homes; families displaced.
The best way for the public to donate right now is through financial donations. At the moment, physical items are accepted but affected people may not have any place to put things right now.
“Even $10 is a huge help,” Dunsdon said. “Financial donations will help make sure their needs are met. We’ll take care of the rest.”
To make a donation call 435-879-9033
What happened
After St. George Communications Center received a report of smoke coming from the bottom of a mobile home, St. George Fire Department responded to the Grandview Mobile Home Park Saturday to find the home completely engulfed in flames. East-blowing winds spread the fire from one mobile home to three others, each with its own shed, St. George Deputy Fire Chief Kevin Taylor said.
More than three hours later, St. George, Santa Clara and Washington City firefighters had the fire extinguished. Four families were safe, but their homes were destroyed.
After initially staying at the reception area Saturday, all families have been able to find temporary shelter with either friends or family until a designated leader is assigned to help the individual families find permanent homes.
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Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires and tornadoes.
Please consider making a donation today to help the thousands of people who have been affected by these disasters.
Follow the link for other ways you can help locally, across the state and beyond…
http://www.redcross.org/support/donating-fundraising/donations
Is the red cross helping them out then? is that the est way to help. I wonder how old the kids are, I’ve got tons of clothes and even some toys we can give them. Would we try to give those to the Red Cross, too?
Sorry, I just re-read the article and saw that part about the red cross – I guess my eyes just missed it!
Is there a way to donate directly to the families without having to go through the Red Cross money absorbing filter? I would like to donate, but I want 100% of the funds to go to the families and not the Red Cross’s outrageous administration costs.
…and where they won’t be billed for ’emergency relief’ later on.
If you look at the facebook page for STGnews, there is a link to a couple relief bank accounts. You can verify ownership of the accounts when you call the bank.
I have set up a gofundme account for the Castro family. Any amount of money will help. Berenice is a server at Red Lobster and her mother also works there. Veronica lost everything. All she has is the dress she was wearing. Let’s please help this amazing family.
Thank you Marcus. Can you please provide the link to the account?
I own a thrift store and would be happy to help out, household items, clothes. I can’t send gift certificates to a phone number..
what exactly does this “red cross” do?
Not much at all.
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2012/11/12/the-problem-with-the-red-cross/
The Red Cross shows up when a family is displaced by a fire or a flood or some emergency. They make sure the people have somewhere to go whether a hotel for a single family or a shelter they set up if it’s several families. They make sure they have clothes, shelter, food, and a little money to get what they need. Sometimes counseling is available too. All of this is free, mostly managed by a well organized team of volunteers. There are other things they do besides disaster response, like service to armed forces, but in this case it is disaster response that is involved. I don’t work for them but I live with someone who does… and they are a great organization. If you ever find yourself standing barefoot and dazed outside of your home as it burns to the ground and the fire crew asks if you want the Red Cross say yes. They’ll get you shoes and a place to go so you can think about the bigger issues.
Don’t they have insurance? Insurance will pay for all of this if they have it.
Genea and family I hope you weren’t affected by this fire.
As you can see…
There are a number of ways you can donate to help the families. Some people have set up accounts… others are putting together fundraisers…The Red Cross is just one of many options. But as an official spokesperson for the American Red Cross I wanted to share with you that $0.91 of every dollar donated by the american people goes to those we help. Sure we have salaries to pay and overhead that keeps us ready to respond everyday throughout the year but for what the organization is capable of doing we are at the top of the list in being good stewards of every donated dollar. Now don’t get me wrong we’ve had a black eye or two but when you have been around for 130 years…we’re all bound to make a few mistakes.
It’s also important for me to remind everyone that we are not a government agency nor do we receive any direct funding from the government. We are a registered 501c3 non-profit humanitarian organization that relies on the generosity of the public. And for the record…I have never heard of anyone getting billed for the services the American Red Cross provides in a disaster. I’m sorry but that is an unfortunate misconception.
Also did you know that the Red Cross is 96% volunteer? People just like you give their time, money and blood donations to support the most recognized and respected humanitarian organization in the world.
Take the time to get to know us. I think you might like what you will find.
Want more information? call 435-674-4440
Mr. Paul Dunsdon,
Please excuse the low information commenters on here. They have been insulated from the realities of life and don’t have a clue about compassion.
Their idea of donating to ANY charity is limited to the annual Festival of Trees event…..or the “dominant” faith-based facility.
The Red Cross does provide an invaluable service to the community.
The Red Cross is a joke and should be shut down.
Whether you believe that or not would have no effect on the reality that if your house burned or flooded, they would be there for you to make sure you have clothes, food, shelter, a little money to buy essentials with, and somebody with experience and professional training to share the task of starting over with. Many of us have this with our own friends and family but some don’t. El Jefe used the right word, compassion. Nobody should go through that kind of loss alone. What amazes me is that this is all done on donations (whether it’s a single family house fire or a whole neighborhood evacuated – they’re prepared) and that there are dozens of volunteers trained and ready here in Washington County to get up in the middle of the night and experience some stranger’s tragedy with them and then still get to their normal job in the morning. People here impress me.