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Red Cross helps Lake Wales couple after fire at their home-based animal rescue
LAKE WALES (May 11, 2008) — On Sunday, May 11, American Red Cross volunteers responded to a fire that put a Lake Wales couple out of their home
At 12:25 p.m., Sunday, May 11, volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter’s Disaster Action Team learned that a couple living on Rosalie Lake Road had a home fire and needed assistance.
The couple – Clinton and Darlynn Martin – run Darlynn’s Darlins (www.darlynnsdarlins.org), a non-profit animal rescue, out of their home and property. The couple arrived home to find smoke coming out of the roof. A neighbor had already called fire services, so they set to work getting the animals out. All were saved, except for one cat and a cockatiel.
American Red Cross volunteers responded and provided the couple with temporary shelter, personal hygiene kits, emergency assistance for groceries, a bottle of odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, and a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy to comfort them.
Local Red Cross volunteers also follow up with families to make sure their immediate emergency needs are met, and will refer families to other United Way of Central Florida partner agencies if they need other types of assistance.
Counting all disasters in the chapter service area since July 1, 2007, Red Cross volunteers with the Polk County Chapter have now assisted 218 families affected by local disasters – mostly single-home and apartment fires – in little more than 10 months. Red Cross volunteers urge all families to take precautions to prevent home fires and to make and practice escape plans to ensure all loved ones get out of a fire safely.
Your local Red Cross will always be there to help. It is not a government agency, and each Red Cross chapter depends on the generosity the community it serves to do its work. To help your families and communities, please donate time, skills, or funds to your local American Red Cross. Red Cross workers can also train people how to prepare for disasters or how to respond with valuable life-saving skills in an emergency.
To volunteer, take classes, or donate to the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter visit the chapter at 147 Avenue A, NW in Winter Haven; e-mail us at polkcofl@polkredcross.org; or please call (863) 294-5941. Thank you for preparing for disaster and for supporting your local American Red Cross.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Since July 1, 2007, the Red Cross has assisted 218 families after local disasters in Polk and Highlands Counties. Almost all were home fires. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it is funded directly by donations. You can help victims of local disasters by making a financial gift to your local American Red Cross chapter. The Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish your donation to assist with a specific disaster, please indicate that when you make your donation. Contributions may be sent to the Polk County Chapter at 147 Avenue A, NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 or to the Highlands County Service Center at 106 Medical Center Drive, Sebring, FL 33870, or by calling (863) 294-5941 in Polk or (863) 386-4440 in Highlands.
News Coverage:
Bay News 9 — Fire guts Polk animal rescue facility
The Ledger — Fire Rekindles at Pot-Bellied Pig Shelter
Bay News 9 — Red Cross swamped during record-setting fire year