When a house fire occurs, fast action is needed by neighbors, friends, and family to help the victims of the house fire. Many times, the victims of a house fire are in shock and disbelief for several days after the incident and they simply need help from the rest of us. If someone you know has a house fire, here are some ways to help them out.
Accommodations for the Victims and their Pets
First and foremost, the victims of a house fire will need a place to stay. If a large family is involved, the family may have to be split up for a short time in order to accommodate everyone. If pets are involved, the pets are also victims of the house fire and will also need a place to stay. A garage, empty bedroom, or maybe just a bathroom will accommodate a dog or cat nicely for a few days.
Spread the Word
You should also talk to as many people as you can to let them know that a house fire has occurred and what items are needed. We all have extra articles of clothing, maybe extra lamps, blankets, dish sets, towels, or silverware that can be donated to the family in need. As you talk with other people and spread the word, they too may have items that they will offer to the house fire victims. The more people that know about the house fire, the more items you’ll receive to help out the victims.
Church groups are well known for coming together during a crisis to help out people in need. Talk to your church group or if the house fire victims belong to a church, talk to their church group. Someone in these groups will take the lead in finding out what the house fire victims need and pass that information on to the other church members.
Banks are usually willing to set up an account for monetary donations to the house fire victims. Contact your local bank to see what needs to be done, and you can also put donation jars around town in places like the local library, coffee shop, or grocery store for people to drop money into. After you’ve set up a bank account for the victims, contact your local newspaper to write a short one or two paragraphs about the monetary donations at the bank. This usually doesn’t cost anything and will let the community know how and where they can donate.
Food & Clothing
Setting up bins to collect food items or clothing for the victims is very easy to do and most retailers will welcome this. Again, displaying these bins in a local shop in town and putting an ad in the local newspaper will help get the word out. Creating flyers by using crayons or markers to post around town is another way to let the community know where to donate items.
Quilts
If you know someone who quilts or belongs to a quilting guild, let them know about the house fire victims. Many quilters usually have several quilts completed for emergency situations such as a house fire and will gladly donate one or two to the victims.
Acting fast and promptly will help ease the pain of house fire victims and give them some comfort during this traumatic time.
