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Sunday Synopsis: A $100+ Gift of Hope Goes to the American Red Cross
Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 11:57PM 
It’s been seven months since my Red Cross fundraiser launched with the first stop on my Dinner-and-a-Movie tour. As the dust settles on this campaign, I am blogging today to thank the small businesses, military families and citizens from the southern and northeastern regions of the country who helped make it possible.
The tour raised over $100 to provide emergency shelter for men, women, children and pets who escape home fires. Did you know fires are the biggest disaster people experience in the United States? Just within the last few weeks, this organization assisted dozens of families who became displaced when fires destroyed their homes and belongings in a matter of minutes, leaving them with nowhere to go.
Individual donations enable the Red Cross to cover a night in a hotel, food, and clothing as well as provide emotional and spiritual support to these survivors, among other services including finding new homes. After the Red Cross provided aid to the U.S. Air Force Veteran I worked with who lost his home in a New Year’s Day fire, I am glad that I decided to use my short film “Abyss: The Greatest Proposal Ever” as a vehicle for hope – putting more people on the path to recovery following our nation’s most common disasters.
How often do YOU practice fire safety drills with your family (including children)?
Reader Comments (3)
It's wonderful that you were able to provide a financial gift to the Red Cross and be a part of helping families recover from disasters. That's making your Indie movie matter in a whole new way.
As for fire drills, you've given me something to think about. When a fire sweeps through a home, it doesn't give the people living inside a chance to pack up their valuables. I think practicing a fire drill would be a good a diea.
This is a really excellent reminder of what we should do to protect our families. Great to hear about your community involvement.
Angela,
Thank you and in some way, it's nice to feel like putting it to use for providing hope for those who experienced disasters means that all of the work that went into making the movie...from the screenplay stage all the way up to the final version, was not made in vain. I'm glad to have found a use for it that can matter on a level larger than the project itself.
You're right there are only a few seconds to get out of a house when fire sweeps through it. Fire safety is a huge deal, given that many structural fires across the U.S. just in 2014 alone have also been fatal. To know that the subject matter has you considering the discussion and practicing of fire drills and/or escape plans for your family is one of the best highlights of this week.
C. Lee McKenzie,
When the knowledge most citizens in developed nations have about preventative measures and fire safety practices finally meets practice and action, many more people have a chance to live. Thanks for reading along as well as for your comment on this post.