Red Cross Ends Appeal for Gifts of Food, Clothes for Fire Victims
Overwhelmed with pledges of food, clothing, lodging and meals, American Red Cross officials Monday called a halt to their appeal for volunteer services for the victims of Sunday’s Normal Heights fire.
“We’ve got used clothing coming out of our ears, which is more than we need,” said Richard Mickelson, local Red Cross director of emergency services. “We’ve got more restaurants and free rooms than we need.”
Doris Unger, a Red Cross spokeswoman, said anyone interested in helping should send cash contributions to the Red Cross Disaster Fund, 3650 5th Ave., San Diego, 92103.
Meanwhile, volunteers continued to staff an emergency center for those made homeless by the fire. The center is at the Normal Heights United Methodist Church, 4650 Mansfield St.
Unger said about 100 victims visited the center Monday. Of those, 18 families accepted offers to spend Monday night free of charge at the Town and Country Hotel or the Hotel Inter-Continental.
In addition, the San Diego County Mental Health Services office is offering free counseling to fire victims and their relatives. Consultants can be reached at 236-3394 or 236-3381.
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