Red Cross Sending Three Locals to Help with Fire Relief in Colorado

—Contributed by the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross Santa Cruz County Chapter is deploying three volunteers to Denver, Colorado to aid in the large wildfire relief operation launched in the West. Leaving Friday, June 22, are:  Janet Packer, an Aptos resident, who is going on her 14th relief operation; Lynn Dunton, a Santa Cruz resident, who is going on his first relief operation and Francis Rinaldo, a Scotts Valley resident, who is going on her 5th relief operation.

Packer will be joining Red Cross staff workers to help manage staffing needs. Rinaldo will work as a mental health worker, helping people cope with the devastating situation they have had to endure. Dunton will work with the public affairs team, delivering important relief information to the media. 

“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by the wildfires,” said American Red Cross Santa Cruz Chapter CEO Rita Chick. “We also thank the countless volunteers out helping in this time of need.”

Red Cross workers are continuing to offer food, emotional support and relief supplies to the hundreds of people affected by wildfires in Colorado and New Mexico over the last few weeks. Shelters are open to provide people with a safe place to stay, meals, relief supplies and health and mental health assistance.

If you would like to help people affected by disasters like these wildfires you can make a donation today to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter, or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.