Red Cross Commemorates Dr. King

This Saturday, January 21st, Red Cross volunteers from the St. Joseph County Chapter will join members of the South Bend Fire Department, Girl Scouts and AmeriCorps for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.

The purpose of the MLK Day of service is to canvass neighborhoods with fire prevention messages and door hangers.

Saturday's event will focus on the southside of South Bend.  Volunteers will meet at the Broadway Christian Parish - United Methodist Church located at1412 S. Carroll St. at 9:00 and will be done by noon.  To volunteer, please contact Kim Tonge at tonge@stjoe-redcross.org or 574-234-0191.

Volunteers will go door to door to talk to residents about fire prevention and will provide door hangers from the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives.

According to the South Bend Fire Department, home fires are the most prevelant disaster threat in South Bend.  SBFD responded to 180 residential fires in 2011, and property owners suffered over $1,000,000 in property damage.  Only 6% of those homes had functioning smoke detectors.  Locally, the Red Cross responded and provided immediate assistance including shelter, food and clothing to 101 families in St. Joseph County. 

All Red Cross disaster services are provided free of charge.  The Red Cross relies on donations from the public to provide these services.  Donations are needed and may be made online at www.stjoe-redcross.org, over the phone at 1-800-RED CROSS or by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.