Letters-to-the-Editor & Commentary

When Disasters Strike, Our Community Steps Up

Published 2 months ago2m ago • Bookmarks: 9

December 26, 2025

To the editor:

While many of us were asleep, hundreds of families stood huddled on Cottage and Park Avenues in Mount Vernon, watching firefighters battle the flames that consumed their homes.

As CEO of the American Red Cross Metro New York North Chapter, I was there that day and in the weeks that followed, as our volunteers — neighbors from the Westchester community —comforted more than 240 residents, providing emergency lodging, hot meals, blankets, and recovery support. Families worried not only about their safety and possessions, but also about where they would sleep and how they would feed their children. With Thanksgiving approaching, many had just stocked their fridges with food meant to be shared with loved ones.

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Our Red Cross volunteers stepped up — Diane, Dave, Rosemari, David, Kathleen, Lule, Ana, Sue, Charleen, and nearly 150 others. The Mount Vernon community rallied too, working hand‑in‑hand with us to ensure families had what they needed to begin their road to recovery. I will always be proud of the selflessness on display during that response.

Thanks to generous donations, this kind of care happens every eight minutes across the U.S., most often after home fires. During the holidays, home fire responses spike nearly 20% nationwide. Here in Metro NY North, more than 300 people have already relied on the Red Cross for help after a home fire since Thanksgiving week.

We’ll continue to be there — because of generous donors and volunteers. This holiday season, please consider donating at redcross.org to ensure families have the support and care they need.

Stephanie Dunn Ashley

CEO, American Red Cross, Metro NY North Chapter

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