WINTER HAVEN, FL (July 3, 2008 ) — On Thursday afternoon, July 3, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter assisted a couple in Winter Haven after fire damaged their home.
At 3:15 p.m. volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter Disaster Action Team received word about a couple displaced when fire burned a home on Second Street SE in Winter Haven. Volunteers arrived on the scene within 25 minutes and provided the man and woman with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene kits), emergency assistance for groceries, odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, a Red Cross disaster clean-up kit, and landlord verification forms to assist in relocation.
This fire is the second one in Polk County for the new service year, which began on July 1. Over the previous 12 months, the local Red Cross assisted 207 families affected by local disasters in Polk County. Almost all families were displaced by home fires, whether in individual houses or apartment buildings. Whenever called, considerate and compassionate volunteers respond to help those in need.
