The American Red Cross received a $10,000 First Federal Charitable Foundation grant it will use to support the organization’s Home Fire Campaign program through Disaster Response and Disaster Preparedness in Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

The American Red Cross Northeastern PA chapter is headquartered in Wilkes-Barre and serves Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties. The organization currently has 325 registered and trained volunteers who are supported by local, chapter and regional staff members to deliver services to the community 24/7.

When the Red Cross is called to a home following a home fire or other disaster, a Disaster Action Team member assists the residents with both emotional support and financial assistance, which is done through a reloadable debit card that can be used for shelter, food and clothing. In the days following the event, each client is assigned to a caseworker who specializes in connecting residents to local resources.

John Santa Barbara, regional philanthropy officer for the American Red Cross, said the First Federal Charitable Foundation grant will be used to help families get their lives back following a disaster.

“These funds will support services offered to local victims of disaster and aid them in their recovery to return to stable housing. The funding from the First Federal Charitable Foundation will allow the Home Fire Campaign to grow and allow the Red Cross to reach out into the local community and educate residents of all ages,” he said.

Santa Barbara said the Northeastern PA chapter responds to an average of more than 145 disasters each year in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties alone. He said the organization is there to help families in the immediate moments of a disaster as well as the weeks and months ahead.

“Day and night, trained Red Cross volunteers arrive at the scene, often finding families outside their burning home without shoes or coats. In fact, we respond nationally to a disaster every eight minutes, the vast majority of them are home fires. We help calm fears and help people secure necessities like clothes, toiletries, food, prescriptions and warm places to sleep,” he said.

“But our role doesn’t end there. The Red Cross remains by clients’ sides in the weeks and months that follow, helping with everything from insurance forms to landlord negotiations and reassuring people that life will get better. This compassionate work is made possible by generous partners like First Federal Charitable Foundation. When you support the Red Cross, you provide both assistance and comfort during some of life’s darkest hours.”

For more information on the American Red Cross Northeastern PA chapter, visit https://rdcrss.org/3Ah7nbP.

The First Federal Charitable Foundation was established to support worthwhile community causes. It strives to nurture nonprofit institutions and programs that will effectively serve those in need from the community, empower nonprofit institutions and programs that will expand their presence in and services to the area, and promote opportunities for new nonprofit institutions and programs that will serve the unserved.

Nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that are located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon and Columbia counties are eligible to apply. Any organization whose headquarters is in another county but serves either Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon or Columbia counties may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties.

For more information on the foundation or to obtain a grant application, visit www.1stfederalcharitable.org or email megan.kennedy@verizon.net.