After almost a week of providing shelter for more than 450 evacuees from Louisiana, fleeing Hurricane Gustov, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross now needs emergency assistance itself.
Providing food and shelter for the hurricane refugees cost the local chapter some $80,000, a huge amount for the area agency and money it did not have budgeted.
But, with people desperately in need of shelter from a potentially life-threatening natural event, as we learned so tragically with Hurricane Katrina, Red Cross here and across the nation did what it always does.
It stood up and provided help.
According to HOT Red Cross, Tennessee received 10,000 evacuees, and 445 of those needing shelter stayed right here in Murfreesboro at the MTSU Recreation Center. To feed and shelter one person is an estimated $30 per day and the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross spent approximately $13,350 each day for six days to serve those most vulnerable.
“Our staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly over the past several days to meet the needs of the evacuees and continue to rise to the challenge of this relief operation,” said Board Chair Joseph A. Peay, CEO of Murfreesboro Medical Clinic.
With the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties kicking off its campaign today, the local Red Cross chapter gave the fund-raising agency proper props with chapter CEO Greg King noting, “Without the support from the United Way the other 11 months out of the year this relief operation would not have been possible. The community also came out in droves to support us during the relief operation by volunteering and donating essential items but the financial need is still there.”
Still, the local unit of Red Cross faces an $80,000 deficit for the huge relief operation it helped served.
Some may argue some of those receiving relief did not conduct themselves well, which is true for a small number and others that the MTSU facility was abused and damaged, largely not true.
Providing basic human assistance should not and cannot be conditional.
More importantly, our community must make sure our Red Cross is able to meet its obligations that more than 90 percent of the time deal directly with those in need who live next door or just down the road from us.
Financial gifts may be mailed to the Heart of Tennessee Chapter, 836 Commercial Court, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 embarked for the “Disaster Relief Fund.”
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