City responds to needs of Red Cross

Date: 3/30/2011

March 23, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE — City Hall employees and residents responded quickly and generously to a call for personal care products the Pioneer Valley Red Cross uses in kits given to victims of fires and other catastrophes.

Heather Canady, special projects manager in the mayor's office who coordinated the drive, said the items on display at a press conference were just a fraction of what was donated. She said there were 10 boxes of soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, deodorants and many other necessities people might need.

Canady started the appeal for donations in the wake of the recent fire that destroyed the building next to the Munich House restaurant downtown.

She said the donations are things "we take for granted."

Tom Conroy, president of the Chicopee St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, presented Red Cross Director of Disaster Services Mary Nathan with a check of $1,175. Conroy explained this was a challenge to other organizations in the city to support the Red Cross.

Nathan said the local Red Cross chapter has had "a very busy fire season' so far this year. It has assisted victims of 12 fires in February and eight so far this month.

The Red Cross helps provide temporary housing for fire victims if they don't have family or friends who could provide shelter, Nathan explained, as well as giving them a comfort kit. The organization will also donate a pre-loaded debit card to a family to help pay for food and new clothes, if necessary.

Nathan said the Red Cross also assists in long-term recovery planning for families who have faced a disaster. She added that two to three weeks after an emergency, the organization conducts a poll of those they helped and the comfort kits always are mentioned favorably.

Nathan described the comfort kit as "one of the human touches we provide."

Mayor Michael Bissonnette commended residents for their donations and the Chicopee Fire Department for their containment of the fire. He noted the firefighters "surrounded the building with a wall of water" to keep the fire from spreading.

He added that people "should look to Japan to see why we should support the Red Cross."