“There are 12 damage assessment teams gathering and analyzing the extent of the damage in the impacted areas to assist in delivery of our critical services. Anyone affected by the storms is welcome for a safe place to stay, or to visit, a Red Cross shelter for a meal, water, information on assistance available, or to talk to a Red Cross representative,” according to a release.
American Red Cross Shelters are at:
• Morton Middle School, 8555 Peters Pike, Vandalia
• Corinthian Baptist Church, 700 N. James H. McGee Blvd., Dayton
• First Baptist Church of Kettering, 3939 Swigert Road, Sugarcreek Twp.
• Mt. Enon Baptist Church, 1510 W. Third St., Dayton
Health service workers and professional crisis counselors are available to help those affected by the storms.
The shelters also have cellphone charging capability and wifi hot spots
“Our Red Cross emergency response vehicles, in collaboration with the Salvation Army, will continue to deliver lunches and water in the neighborhoods affected by the storms,” according to the Red Cross. “Over the weekend, the Red Cross will be distributing cleaning and relief supplies in those areas where residents are able to safely return to their homes to begin working on their recovery.”
Supplies will be distributed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in West Milton, Trotwood, Brookville, Harrison Twp., Riverside and Beavercreek.
Supplies also can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Meijer at 9200 N. Main St. in Englewood and US Bank at 2350 N. Gettysburg Ave. in Dayton.
At the bank site, a Red Mobile Communications Unit will be available with wireless service available for people to contact to family, friends, insurance companies or others. Registration for the Red Cross Safe & Well site, which aids in reunification of loved ones, also can be completed there.
“We’ve had an overwhelming response,” Marita Salkowski, regional marketing coordinator for the Red Cross, said.
Brian Zimmerman of Centerville told the Red Cross he saw the devastation on television and wanted to help his community.
“My heart goes out to the people who have lost everything,”Zimmerman, who spent his day packaging disaster kits and going into the impacted neighborhoods assessing damage, said in the later Red Cross release.
Community volunteers are working through:
• The Christian Life Center, 3489 Little York Road in Butler Twp. is organizing cleanup crews who will be out in the community for the next two weeks.
• The Foodbank of Dayton, 56 Armor Place in Dayton, needs volunteers to unload trucks and to sort donations.
• Be Hope Church at 530 N. Sixth St., in Miamisburg, is seeking volunteers for community clean-up.
Salkowski said those eager to pitch in will get their chance in weeks and months ahead “long after this has gone out of the news.”
The Red Cross is not able to receive donations of supplies and food at shelter locations.
The city of Dayton has opened three recreation facilities that will accept in-kind donations smaller than a skid, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday:
• Northwest Recreation Center at 1600 Princeton Drive, Dayton, OH 45406
• Greater Dayton Recreation Center at 2021 W. Third St., Dayton, OH 45417
• Lohrey Recreation Center at 2366 Glenarm Ave., Dayton, OH 45420
Donations of a skid or larger can be made from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Expo Center, Dayton Airport, 3900 McCauley Drive, Vandalia, OH 45377.
For more information about other community resources available to those affected by the storms, call the Montgomery County Information Hotline at 937-225-6217.
Financial donations can be made to the Red Cross Disaster Relief. To donate, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the Author
