During the recent holiday season, between December 16th and 30th, trained Red Cross staff members—volunteers and employees—in Orange and Sullivan counties responded to nine house fires and three building vacates, coming to the aid of 34 families comprised of 54 individuals.

In Sullivan county, Red Cross responders provided services during one incident in Jeffersonville, one in Loch Sheldrake, and four Monticello. In Orange, the Red Cross supported residents in Blooming Grove, Maybrook, Middletown, Newburgh, Port Jervis and Wallkill.

For a Blooming Grove household affected by a fire, ARC/GNY coordinated services with the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. Emergency responders transported family members to a local hospital for medical treatment. Soon after, the family was transferred to a hospital in Hackensack. Additional assistance for the family, paid by ARC/GNY, was provided by the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey. Blooming Grove neighbors and community organizations also provided support by collecting food and clothing for the family.

Two ARC/GNY Area Offices provide services and programs for Orange and Sullivan residents. One is located at 55 Main Street in Goshen (845-294-9785). The other, serving the West Point-area community, is at Building 2104, Visitors Center, West Point Hwy. (New South Post Road) in West Point (845-938-4100).