American Red Cross Aids 14 After Rensselaer Fire

ALBANY (October 21, 2014) -- Volunteers from the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York have provided assistance to a total of fourteen people following a fire on Second Avenue in Rensselaer. The fire occurred Monday night and affected multiple units of an apartment building, leaving three families displaced. The Red Cross provided each family with temporary lodging and financial assistance for food and clothing. Volunteers also supplied residents with comfort kits containing basic personal hygiene items, and will remain available to help those in need as they continue to navigate the road to recovery in the coming days. The Red Cross recently announced a need for additional volunteers, specifically in Rensselaer County, to help respond to local disasters like Monday night's fire. The organization is seeking new "Disaster Action Team" members over the age of 18, who have a cell phone, an email address, a vehicle and a desire to help their neighbors in need. To learn more about Red Cross volunteer opportunities, please visitredcross.org/volunteer or call (518) 458-8111. The Red Cross is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide both short- and long-term assistance to those affected by disasters. The ability for the Red Cross to respond to disasters large and small is made possible solely by the generosity of the public. To donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.