OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Two fires left two southeast Iowa families homeless over the weekend and the American Red Cross is once again stepping up to help them out in their time of need.
On New Year’s Eve, a fire tore through one of the trailers at the Golden Arrow Trailer Park on Ottumwa’s southeast side and on Saturday, a fire left a Fairfield family homeless after a fire destroyed their home.
Ottumwa Deputy Fire Chief Cory Benge spoke to KTVO about the Ottumwa fire Tuesday, saying that the fire looks as if it started near the furnace. No matter what the cause, an Ottumwa man is now homeless, and that is where the American Red Cross steps in.
“We did assist two families here in southeast Iowa. One in Fairfield and another here in Ottumwa. We are always looking for monetary donations. We typically do not take other items, such as clothing, food, things like that. We always refer them to other agencies. We just don’t have the capability to store those items and stock them, and give them out to everyone. It is always best for us to take a monetary donation. We can decide how it is best used by the client and what their needs are. So we always recommend a monetary donation,” said Brandon Holstrom, State Client Services Director with the American Red Cross.
Holstrom added that the American Red Cross is always looking for volunteers. If you would like more information on the American Red Cross, click here.
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