Arkansans who were affected by recent floods or tornadoes can reach out for assistance, financial or otherwise, but only until Monday.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansans who saw serious damage from April’s floods or tornadoes can now receive financial assistance from the Red Cross—but only through Monday.
The process began this past week, when the Red Cross’ Arkansas chapter opened disaster assistance centers in Lake City, Hardy, West Memphis and Little Rock.
“The mission of the American Red Cross is to alleviate human suffering,” Jill Eaves, regional communications manager for the Red Cross, said Saturday.
And unfortunately, there was plenty of that at the Disaster Assistance Center in Little Rock on Saturday.
Nearly everyone who visited the center had a story, like basements flooding or trees falling on their homes.
Eaves said they’re all too aware of the problems so many are facing.
“We really want to be there to help support the community,” Eaves said. “So floods, tornadoes, straight line winds, any kind of natural disaster like that—we want to be there to support.”
At a Disaster Assistance Center, that support first comes in the form of a greeting, and then some free snacks to take home.
Then, attendees can meet with a volunteer like Willie Hopkins to discuss financial assistance.
“I was a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard,” Hopkins remembered, “And we were doing a flood on the Red River in Texarkana down that way, and the Red Cross was kind of assisting too.”
That was Hopkins’ first encounter with the Red Cross, and he never forgot it.
When he retired a few years ago, he decided he wanted to devote some of his time to the organization’s mission.
“I just enjoy it,” Hopkins said. “I’ve been doing it for four years now, and I don’t regret it.”
The people there Saturday were grateful for his help—and that of all the staff and volunteers.
“The symbol of the American Red Cross, it really gives that symbol of hope,” Eaves said. “And we’ve really been seeing people come in and become hopeful. They were kind of lost, and giving them a sense of direction and providing that assistance has really been key.”
The in-person Disaster Assistance Centers have now closed, but if you still need help, you can visit redcross.org/gethelp or call 1-800-REDCROSS.
You’ll need to act quickly, though—the deadline to receive assistance for Arkansans affected by any of April’s weather events is Monday, May 12.
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