Story told by Amanda Graham, Red Cross Volunteer

Holly Wingard's 18-year-old grandson awoke one Sunday to find the backside of their home completely engulfed in flames. She was away when she received the news, but by the time she returned home, fire crews were at work. Holly's family was able to escape the fire safely, but their home could not be saved. American Red Cross volunteers arrived on the scene that day, and Holly explained how they assisted her family during that time.

"God bless y'all. First off you gave us toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hand-knitted crochet blankets. Ya'll gave us enough money to stay at a hotel room, two rooms for a whole week,” Holly recalls how the Red Cross supported the family of seven.

In the moments and days immediately following life-altering events such as house fires, victims face uncertainty and questions regarding their future.

"We didn't know where we were going to go or what we were going to do after that, but we had two rooms for a whole week. So, we had enough time to gather our thoughts, which was a huge, huge blessing."

Sadly, this was not Holly's first home fire, having experienced a tragic fire in the 1980s. Having lost a child and suffering injuries herself decades before, Holly’s thoughts upon approaching her home were focused solely on the safety of her family and pets. Fortunately, her loved ones and beloved animals escaped the recent fire unharmed.

"The only thing going through my mind was that everyone got out safely," said Holly with relief.

Marta Anderson, a Red Cross Volunteer supporting recovery and casework, was assigned to Holly's case. She provided a listening ear and reassurance that things would get better while also providing some of the resources necessary for Holly to get back on her feet. Marta explains that many volunteers have experienced disaster and resulting trauma themselves, so they genuinely understand what these victims are going through. In speaking with victims, volunteers seek to help them believe that recovery is possible.

The Red Cross sends disaster action team members to meet with families in the immediate aftermath of home fires and will stay in contact with them for at least 30 days following the incident. Volunteers assess the home's damage and often provide immediate financial assistance for necessities, including food, clothing, and hotel stays.

The majority of the 65,000 disasters the Red Cross responds to each year are home fires, and in South Carolina, the Red Cross responds to an average of six home fires per day. You can help families like Holly’s recover from devastating events like home fires, by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief.