Red Cross Funds Depleted by Motel Fire

The Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross is helping victims of yesterday's Airport Inn Fire on Lee Hwy.

According to hotel management aproximately 20 rooms were occupied at the time of the fire. Chattanooga Firefighters contacted the Red Cross to help fire victims needing immediate shelter.

Local Red Cross Disaster Assistance Volunteers Dick and Mary Ann Blazak, David Kaplan and Hector Vazquez are onsite at the nearby America's Best Inn where victims needing assistance have gathered. By 7 PM more than 32 people were put up at area hotels and have been issued Client Assistance Cards for clothing, food, diapers and baby formula.

Many of those impacted have been long term residents of the hotel and had yet to come home from work to find themselves without a place to live.

According to Barbara Alexander, executive director of the Greater Chattanooga Area Red Cross, "We will be providing aproximately $15,000 in assitance to fire victims. This could not have come at a worse time as our Disaster Assistance Fund is at an all time low. The Red Cross needs your help now. We are appealing to area residents to help those who have lost so much by donating to their local Red Cross Chapter. It is important that checks must be made out to the Chattanooga Area Chapter in order for the dollars to stay in this area."

The Greater Chattanooga Area Regional Chapter has helped a record number of victims in the past year. For the recently completed fiscal year the Chapter has provided more than $184,000 in direct assistance to 1,146 people. The Red Cross is not a governmental agency and relies on the generosity of those in the communities they serve to fund the work of their volunteers. Donations must be designated to the Greater Chattanooga Area Chapter in order to benefit local victims -- checks can be sent to 801 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37403 or donations can be made online through their secure website at www.chattanoogaredcross.org.