The majority of these fires are caused by candle use and overloaded electrical circuits. Though ninety-three percent of the fires Red Cross responds to are home fires, they are preventable emergencies. People unknowingly place ‘spent’ ashes in paper or plastic bags near combustibles that unexpectedly catch fire. Unfortunately, urban areas are often hit hardest where homes are tightly packed and often don’t meet modern fire codes. These are also often the areas that have the least resources to cope with fire disaster. When someone donates a used car to the Red Cross the proceeds of the sale of the car donation provides relief for these hardest hit areas.

The Red Cross provides immediate and longer-term assistance to fire victims. Auto donation helps fund the chapter budget that is set aside for local disasters to be drawn on to provide vouchers for food, clothing, and temporary shelter. In one year alone, Red Cross workers in Southern Maryland responded to more than 75 fires with many of those families being displaced and in need temporary housing, clothing and food. In addition trained Red Cross mental health counselors help families to recover emotionally, particularly the elderly who may lose a home lived in for decades. The Red Cross strives to educate people on what to do in event of fire through their fire safety tips located online but donations are needed to help meet the many needs of the people they serve.

We need no reminder that charities need our support throughout the year but in March perhaps we ought to consider making a special effort to volunteer our time or our money to help The American Red Cross make life easier for those people who need some extra assistance; whether that be in the form of money, food, clothing, or even somewhere to stay if they need emergency shelter. In this same spirit of giving, The Wachlovia Foundation recently made a $100,000 donation to the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of The American Red Cross to support the Chapter’s Disaster Preparedness Program. This program has been put in place with the aim of providing food and shelter for 250, 000 people in the wake of a major disaster.

Obviously, few of us can afford to make such large contributions but there are many practical ways in which we can help. Many Chapters of The American Red Cross accept donations of cars or other vehicles. So next time you are thinking of selling a used car, donate it to charity instead. And who knows, this month the President might consider doing the same if he wants to trade in Air Force One for a newer model.