Polk Red Cross helps Lakeland family of six after fire

LAKELAND, FL (JUNE 26, 2009) – On Friday afternoon, American Red Cross volunteers helped a Lakeland family displaced from their home by fire.

Two volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter Disaster Action Team arrived at 4:40 p.m. Friday night, June 26, at to a home on Morning Star Drive in Lakeland, where fire had displaced two adults and four children.

Volunteers provided the family with temporary shelter, emergency assistance for groceries, comfort kits (personal hygiene items), odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, and a Red Cross clean-up kit.

Any disaster can be devastating to a family, large or small, and needs increase during tough economic times. Please take every precaution and follow fire safety tips to prevent fires in your home, and please support your local Red Cross.

Learn to prevent fire from the Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941, visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org, or visit the American Red Cross Mid-Florida Region web site at www.midfloridaredcross.org.