RedCrossPhillyBlog

Category: Red Cross House

  • Fire Prevention Week: From fire survivor to Red Cross volunteer and board member, Lisa Stokes knows the importance of being prepared 

    By Jenny Farley and Akriti Farmahan

    American Red Cross Volunteer and Board Member Lisa Stokes smiling in a professional portrait.
    American Red Cross Volunteer and Board Member Lisa Stokes. Submitted photo

    As Philadelphia families prepare to spend more time indoors this fall and winter, Lisa Stokes has a message for residents: don’t wait until a disaster happens to think about fire safety. 

    Lisa knows firsthand how quickly a fire can change lives. 

    Her connection to the American Red Cross began long before she experienced a disaster herself. In 1997, her daughter Mariah was born at just 25 weeks, weighing only one pound. Doctors gave her only 72 hours to live. 

    Mariah survived thanks in part to blood transfusions provided through generous Red Cross blood donors. 

    “Those blood transfusions were made possible through the donations from total strangers to keep my daughter alive, to give her a chance to live,” Lisa said. 

    Years later, in 2013, a fire in a neighboring home spread and filled Lisa’s house with smoke and soot, destroying nearly everything inside, including the medical equipment her medically fragile daughter relied on daily. 

    Suddenly, Lisa and her two daughters had nowhere to go. 

    “I ended up standing in front of the Red Cross House just looking up like I cannot believe that I’m here,” she recalled. 

    The Red Cross House, located in Philadelphia, is the only facility of its kind in the nation. It provides temporary housing and support services for families displaced by home fires and other disasters. 

    When Lisa arrived at the Red Cross House, staff worked alongside her to accommodate Mariah’s unique medical needs. 

    “They were able to give me and my daughters a place to not only lay our heads, not only provide three meals a day for us, but they allowed a safe space for me to understand everything that happened to us and then begin to rebuild,” she said. 

    Today, Lisa shares her story to encourage others to prepare before disaster strikes. 

    “Fires can happen to anyone,” she said. “You don’t think it’s going to be you until it is.” 

    Her experience mirrors findings from a recent American Red Cross survey showing that while most Philadelphia residents believe they are prepared for a home fire, more than half do not have a home fire escape plan and very few have practiced one. 

    This Fire Prevention Week, the Red Cross and Philadelphia Fire Department are encouraging residents to take simple steps that could save lives: 

    • Test smoke alarms regularly. 
    • Create a two-minute home fire escape plan. 
    • Identify two ways out of every room.
    • Practice fire escape plans with everyone in the household.
    • Follow lithium-ion battery safety guidance.

    For Lisa, preparedness is about more than emergency plans. It’s about knowing help is available when people need it most. 

    After leaving the Red Cross House and returning home, Lisa made a promise to give back. 

    More than a decade later, she remains one of the region’s most dedicated Red Cross volunteers, serving in numerous roles and helping other families facing difficult moments. 

    “When people understand that there’s people out here willing to help you, it changes your perspective,” Lisa said. “Red Cross is it for me.” 

    As Fire Prevention Week reminds families to prepare for emergencies before they happen, Lisa hopes her story serves as a reminder that a few minutes spent planning today could make all the difference tomorrow. 

  • Building a more inclusive path to recovery: Sensory go bags debut at the Red Cross House

    By Terri Seydel

    Ben Michel stands with several large orange go bags.
    Ben Michel stands with the sensory go bags he built at the Red Cross House. The bags contain carefully selected items designed to reduce sensory overload and provide comfort in high-stress environments.

    When disaster strikes, preparedness can mean the difference between chaos and comfort, especially for individuals with sensory sensitivities or disabilities. In Southeastern Pennsylvania, a new initiative is helping ensure that emergency response is more inclusive, compassionate, and effective. Thanks to the vision of local high school senior Ben Michel and a collaboration with the American Red Cross, sensory “Go Bags” are now available to support individuals with sensory needs during emergencies.

    The Inspiration Behind the Project

    Ben Michel’s senior project at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, began with a passion for environmentalism and a desire to make a meaningful impact. As he explored the growing frequency and severity of natural disasters, including the recent California wildfires, his research expanded beyond environmental policy into the human realities of disaster response.

    Through conversations with college professors and disaster experts, including reflections on Hurricane Katrina, Ben became aware of how often people with disabilities and sensory sensitivities are disproportionately affected during emergencies. Many are left without adequate support, not by oversight, but by systems not designed with their needs in mind. That realization shifted his focus from policy analysis to social action and led him to partner with the American Red Cross to explore inclusive disaster relief solutions.

    Building the Sensory Go Bags

    With a $2,400 grant from the Chuck Brian Fund, Ben worked alongside Red Cross collaborators Linda Scheuermann, Maurine Streeter, and Diane Grenz to create five sensory “Go Bags.” These kits are staged and ready for deployment during natural disasters across Southeastern Pennsylvania.

    Each Go Bag contains carefully selected items designed to reduce sensory overload and provide comfort in high-stress environments, including noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets, fidget toys, and other calming materials. The bags are intended to support individuals with a wide range of sensory sensitivities and disabilities—offering practical tools to help restore a sense of calm and safety during crisis situations.

    Ben’s project resulted in three tangible outcomes: in-depth research, a formal report prepared for the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies, and the creation of the Go Bags themselves. Together, they represent a model the Red Cross envisions scaling for broader use in disaster response nationwide.

    Photo of 4 people standing with the arms around each other. two are wearing Red Cross shirts.
    High school senior Ben Michel collaborated with the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region to create sensory go bags for the Red Cross House in Pennsylvania. Pictured (from left): Maureen Smith-Streeter, regional client care manager; Diane Grenz, disaster disabilities integration regional coordinator; Ben Michel; and  Linda Scheuermann, disaster disabilities integration regional lead. Submitted photo

    Building upon Strong Community Partnerships

    This initiative builds on earlier momentum by the American Red Cross to support neurodiverse individuals and families during disaster recovery. In 2025, the Eagles Autism Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the Red Cross House in Philadelphia—a one-of-a-kind disaster recovery center in West Philadelphia where families can stay following a disaster. 

    That grant funded staff training and facility enhancements to better support autistic children and their families during emergency stays, most commonly following home fires. Trainers from the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at Saint Joseph’s University provided hands-on education to Red Cross staff, deepening understanding of sensory sensitivities and best practices for inclusive care. The funding also enabled the creation of quiet spaces, sensory-friendly play areas, and the purchase of specialized calming materials, many of which informed the design of the Sensory Go Bags.

    Why Sensory Go Bags Matter

    Disasters are stressful for everyone. For individuals with sensory sensitivities, the noise, crowds, unfamiliar environments, and loss of routine can be overwhelming. Sensory Go Bags provide immediate, practical support, helping individuals regulate, feel safe, and remain calm until additional assistance is available.

    The American Red Cross responds to an emergency approximately every eight minutes. These kits help ensure that disaster relief efforts meet people where they are and that individuals with disabilities and sensory needs are not overlooked during moments when support matters most.

    Looking Ahead

    Ben hopes to pursue a future career that blends business, service, and advocacy for people with disabilities, scaling inclusive models like the Red Cross House to reach more communities. His project stands as a powerful example of how youth leadership, collaboration, and thoughtful design can drive meaningful change in disaster preparedness and response.

    Get Involved

    Visit redcross.org to learn more about disaster recovery services and local volunteer opportunities.

  • #LeadLikeClara: Humanitarian Lisa Stokes leads by example

    By Jenny Farley

    Red Cross board member Lisa Stokes makes a point of thanking volunteers. She said, “If all I can do is meet them, or see them somewhere and say ‘thank you,’ you can rest assured I’m there.” Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    To understand what the Red Cross means to Lisa Stokes, you have to go back in time to when her love for the organization first blossomed.

    “My relationship began with the Red Cross back in 1997 because my daughter was a one-pound preemie,” she said.

    Doctors gave Lisa’s daughter, Mariah, 72 hours to live.

    “She was born at 25 weeks, and she needed blood transfusions that came from the Red Cross.”

    Blood helped save her.

    “Those blood transfusions were made possible through the donations from total strangers to keep my daughter alive, to give her a chance to live.”

    Mariah was medically fragile with respiratory issues that required round-the-clock nursing care. Lisa became her protector and the coordinator of a lot of moving parts to make sure Mariah was safe and well cared for. Mariah depended on medical equipment to help keep her stable.

    In 2013, a fire broke out next door. When flames crept up the walls, they ruined everything, filling that life-sustaining medical equipment with soot and destroying everything but a few clothes.

    By then, Lisa had two other children, her daughter Maiya and Chantel, a niece/daughter she adopted as a toddler.

    The fire left Lisa and her family with nowhere to go.

    “I ended up standing in front of the Red Cross House just looking up like I cannot believe that I’m here.”

    There is only one Red Cross House in the United States, and it’s in Philadelphia. Last year, staff at the Red Cross House helped more than 500 families recover from a disaster by providing a free place to stay and regular meals.

    When Lisa and her girls arrived in 2013, the Red Cross House had to adapt to Mariah’s medical needs. With Lisa’s help, the staff learned how to support a new type of guest.

    Lisa said staying there was, “The best decision I ever made.” She said, “They were able to give me and my daughters a place to not only lay our heads, not only provide three meals a day for us, but they allowed a safe space for me to understand everything that happened to us and then begin to rebuild.”

    When her stay ended and her family could finally return home, she vowed to come back. She kept her promise. That began an odyssey of more than a decade of volunteering for the Red Cross.

    “When people understand that there’s people out here willing to help you, it changes your perspective, and so, Red Cross is it for me.”

    Lisa became a Red Cross board member who recently won the Anita Lockwood Award, given to a leadership volunteer with years of dedicated service to the Red Cross in several areas.

    “From Sound the Alarms, to setting up and packing survival and disaster kits, if they call on me and I’m available, I go.”

    At the award ceremony, Red Cross Regional CEO Jennifer Graham said, “Lisa’s enthusiasm is infectious, and her passion for our mission shines brightly.” She thanked Lisa for her “exceptional leadership and enduring presence.”

    During this Women’s History Month, Lisa has a message for future female leaders interested in humanitarian work like the Red Cross.

    “Be bold and show up. As an African American woman, a person of color, representation means a lot.” She said, “Being bold and stepping up, maybe even out of your comfort zone, is what we have to do in an unapologetic way. I’m here. I’m here to help.”

    Lisa balances a full-time job as a Community Health worker at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital with her extensive commitment to volunteering for the Red Cross. Like most women, she’s used to handling multiple things at once. So, what advice does she have for other women to avoid burnout?

    “I pace myself. ‘No’ is a complete sentence with a period. With no explanation.” She said, “I tell women when I speak to them, don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Self-care is not selfish.”

    As for dealing with the hardships of surviving a disaster like a fire, she said, “The sun is going to come out. You may not see it right now, but the sun is going to shine again.”

    Through everything she has survived and accomplished, Lisa encourages others to get involved, donate blood and especially follow her example and volunteer for the Red Cross.

    “Volunteering for the Red Cross will fill the void you didn’t know that you had.”

  • Red Cross House makes the holiday season a little brighter for families after a disaster

    By Jenny Farley

    Skylar Jackson gets presents from Santa at the Red Cross House Children’s Holiday Party on Dec. 18, 2024. Photo by Donn Greenberg / American Red Cross.Visit our Flickr album for more photos.

    The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region hosted a children’s holiday party on December 18th, 2024 at the Red Cross House in West Philly. The party gave children and families affected by a home fire or other disaster during the year, who stayed at the Red Cross House, a chance to experience a night of fun and festivities.

    “It warms my heart to see these families come back with smiles on their faces,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. “When they first come to the Red Cross House after a disaster, we help them on their pathway to recovery. The children’s holiday party is our chance to see them on the next stop of their journey and celebrate how far they’ve come.”

    Santa, Fred Cross and Mrs. Clause pose for a photo with Red Cross Southeastern PA CEO Jennifer Graham under the balloon arch. Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross

    At the party, Santa and Mrs. Claus mingled with Red Cross mascots Fred Cross and Buddy the Blooddrop in a celebration that took place on two floors of the Red Cross House.

    The staff, led by Yaly Alvarez, who is the supervisor of Red Cross House operations, spent three weeks lovingly putting up the vibrant balloons and decorations that greeted clients as they moved from room to room.

    Families ate dinner together and kids decorated gingerbread cookies with the help of students from the JNA Institute of Culinary Arts. In a room set up for crafts, kids made their own stockings with guidance from members of the Philadelphia Youth Action Team, who also collected toys and helped wrap gifts for the children.

    A Philadelphia firefighter demonstrates how to use a fire hose outside of the Red Cross House. Photo by Katerina Luchinina / American Red Cross

    Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department brought a fire engine to the Red Cross House and let children take turns spraying the hose. Kids happily lined up to practice their firefighting skills next to firefighters who work hard to extinguish fires year round – protecting people and property.

    The Red Cross House in Philadelphia is the only one of its kind in the country. It provides recovery services, short-term shelter and three meals a day to clients for up to three weeks. Last year, the Red Cross House helped more than 500 people with disaster recovery services.

    Marquita Jackson and her daughter Skylar lost their home in a fire on January 4, 2024. When they arrived at the Red Cross House Marquita said, “We were devastated but they did their best to comfort us.” Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    Marquita Jackson and her daughter Skylar, who is 9 years old, lost their home in a fire last winter and stayed in the Red Cross House for 21 days.

    “I truly appreciate the Red Cross being here to aid us when we needed it the most,” Marquita said.

    When they arrived at the Red Cross House the night of the fire, Skylar described feeling “safe” after a cold and frightening night.

    “It was really scary, but the Red Cross did help us a lot,” she said.

    Returning to the Red Cross House for the holiday party meant a lot to them.

    “They didn’t have to call us back, basically a year later, to invite us to a Christmas dinner but they did so. I’m so appreciative and thankful and grateful for the Red Cross,” Marquita said.

    Andrea Osorio Collazos, shown with her son Malik, said she was grateful for the resources and support she received at the Red Cross House because she had nowhere else to go after a fire destroyed her home. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    Andrea Osorio Collazos suffered a fire earlier this month and took a much needed break from her worries to attend the festivities with her seven month old son Malik.

    In early December, Andrea was at work when her neighbor called to alert her about a fire next door. When it was over, everything was covered in smoke and ash, and the only thing Andrea could salvage was a few pots and pans. It’s especially hard because Andrea said she has no family except for her beloved baby son.

    Red Cross volunteer Danelle Connolly met Andrea when she deployed to the fire and recommended that she go to the Red Cross House.

    “I’m grateful because I didn’t have anywhere to go. There’s people in worse situations, so I’m happy that I even had a shelter. I’m grateful for this because some people don’t even have this,” she said.

    Andrea Osorio Collazos is grateful for the help she received from Red Cross House caseworker Sibongile Sithole, pictured on the right, and Disaster Mental Health volunteer Danelle Connolly, shown dressed as Mrs. Claus. Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    Danelle and Andrea reunited at the party where Danelle was dressed as Mrs. Claus, helping to entertain kids and hand out presents that had been donated and beautifully wrapped.

    Andrea described the environment at the Red Cross House as very “welcoming” and pointed to Sibongile Sithole as someone who helped her immensely. Sibongile is a caseworker at the Red Cross House who has worked for the Red Cross for more than 20 years. She helps clients rebuild their lives after they have lost everything, including hope.

    “When I asked her for help she, (Andrea snapped her fingers), right away helped me out,” Andrea said.

    Tootsie Troiani has volunteered at the Red Cross House for the past three years. She greets clients at the front desk and makes sure she learns their names. At the holiday party, Tootsie called the event “incredible” and enjoyed getting to see the familiar faces of clients she met during the year. “They really are a family when they’re here.”

    Volunteer Tootsie Troiani greets clients at the front desk of the Red Cross House. She said, “To have that opportunity to provide a service like we do is pretty awesome.” Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    She said, “You get a sense of, like coming home when these folks come back, because they’ve been here and hopefully they have a smile on their face now when they didn’t have it before.”

    The Red Cross House could not operate without generous donors. Thanks to those donations, last year the Red Cross House provided close to 4,000 overnight stays and served more than 11,600 meals.

    At the holiday party, 89 kids and 46 families celebrated the holiday season.

    If you would like to donate or volunteer for the American Red Cross, go to redcross.org.

    Watch news coverage of the Red Cross House Children’s Holiday Party from CBS Philadelphia and Fox 29.

  • National Volunteer Week: Red Cross House volunteer Lestonia Glover is a messenger of hope

    Editor’s Note: We’re profiling outstanding Red Cross volunteers throughout National Volunteer Week April 21-27. Be sure to check back daily!

    Red Cross Chief Operating Officer Clifton Salas (left) presents Lestonia Glover (right) with the Red Cross House Exceptional Volunteer Award on Dec. 6, 2023. Photo by Bill Thawley/American Red Cross

    By Terri Seydel

    If you visit the Red Cross House in Philadelphia, you’ll likely be greeted with the welcoming smile of Lestonia Glover. As a front desk volunteer, her warmth is so much more than a greeting; it’s a vital element in the Red Cross House program for disaster victims.

    The Red Cross House provides a safe, comfortable place where families can stay together after their lives have been disrupted by disasters. During their stay, residents are provided food, necessities, and a case worker to help them begin their journey to rebuild their lives after being displaced from their homes.

    When she retired after more than 30 years as a schoolteacher, Lestonia looked to volunteering as a way to continue her passion for service to others. She was drawn to the Red Cross House where she now covers the front desk three days a week.

    As a valuable member of the team, Lestonia takes on various responsibilities, but often her largest contribution is to listen and provide moral support to the residents as they work through challenges and decisions in the aftermath of fires, floods, or storms that impacted their lives in many unexpected ways.

    Lestonia enjoys interacting with the residents through special activities and holiday events and is constantly surprised at how much the Red Cross House feels like an extended family. She particularly enjoys visits from past residents who stop in to share how well they are doing and express gratitude for the kindness and help they received while staying at the Red Cross House.

    In December, the Red Cross honored Lestonia with the Red Cross House Exceptional Volunteer Award for the compassion, gracefulness, and generosity she extends to each resident and staff member. She’s made a difference in the lives of many people and continues to be a shining example of the many volunteers that the Red Cross depends on each year to provide humanitarian services to worldwide community members.

    Check out other volunteer opportunities to see how you might also help others after natural disasters or consider donating to support Red Cross services like the Red Cross House.

  • Red Ball gala supports disaster relief efforts in Southeastern PA

    Red Ball photos by Jenny Farley, Dianne Heard, Konrad Jones, Katerina Luchinina, Bernadette Matthis and Tatiana Vlad. See more event photos in our Flickr album.

    By Jenny Farley

    The 22nd annual Red Ball, at Vie by Cescaphe, brought out a large crowd, excited to celebrate the work of the American Red Cross and the sponsors, volunteers and employees who make it possible to respond to disasters and rebuild lives.

    Jennifer Graham, the CEO for the American Red Cross in Southeastern Pennsylvania, addressed Red Ball guests from the stage and spoke of the financial need that is present, with “large disasters happening more and more.”

    She said, “During a year of record-breaking disasters, the American Red Cross was there and you helped us get there. Your support makes a difference in the lives of those affected.”

    Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania CEO Jennifer Graham. Photo by Katerina Luchinina / American Red Cross.

    Each year the Red Ball is made possible by sponsors, including Title Sponsors AmeriHealth Caritas and Independence Blue Cross.

    Lorina Marshall-Blake, the President of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation told Red Ball guests, “We share a belief in serving the community with compassion and respect just like the Red Cross. The Red Cross is there for us, all of us, in the most challenging times, and they help us see a brighter future.” At this, the crowd broke out into loud applause.

    Independence Blue Cross Foundation President Lorina Marshall-Blake. Photo by Tatiana Vlad / American Red Cross

    Tonya Moody, the Vice President of Title Sponsor AmeriHealth Caritas, said, “AmeriHealth Caritas is honored to support the American Red Cross Red Ball because it’s aligned with our mission to help people get care, stay well and build healthier communities.”

    AmeriHealth Caritas Vice President Tonya Moody. Photo by Tatiana Vlad / American Red Cross

    The Red Ball featured entertainment with a lively band and a thriving dance floor, and dishes that delighted foodies, including hors d’oeuvres, a sushi bar, seafood buffet, and a champagne tower with raspberries floating in the flutes.

    Items displayed from a silent auction ranged from sports memorabilia, to an autographed guitar, as well as artwork featuring famous Philly landmarks.

    Silent auction highlights included memorabilia signed by Jason Kelce, Taylor Swift, Jalen Hurts and Joel Embiid, as well as Philadelphia-themed art prints. Photos by Konrad Jones, Jenny Farley and Bernadette Mathis / American Red Cross

    Guest Kevan Phillips, who attended the Red Ball for the first time, soaked up the sights and smells at the Maduro Cigar Bar located on the venue’s outdoor patio.

    “A bunch of beautiful people. Beautiful music. Beautiful food and drinks, and for the cause, it’s important. I love it,” he said.

    Brandon Brown, who also hung out on the patio with the Maduro Cigar Club, appreciated getting the opportunity to dress up for a good cause.

    He said, “If you look around, everybody in their devastating red, and their tuxedos and even their sneakers, it’s just people having a party for a purpose.”

    Brandon said he supports the Red Cross mission of alleviating suffering.

    “The Red Cross has always been the first people to respond and oftentimes it’s the water, it’s the blankets, it’s the food. Actually, it’s also the human contact,” that makes all the difference.

    Red Ball guests Kevan Phillips (left) and Brandon Brown (right). Photos by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    CEO Jennifer Graham reminded the crowd that the American Red Cross workforce is 90% volunteer. “Our volunteers bring help and hope everywhere they go,” she said.

    Volunteers like Red Ball guest Joyce Gray, who has spent several years as a blood donor ambassador. She said her favorite thing is meeting people. “Seeing all the individuals who come in to donate their blood and how eager and energetic they are to do that.”

    Ball guest Joyce Scott has volunteered at the Red Cross House for the past six months. “I love to help people. I love to try to be there for people at their lowest point. To help lift them up.”

    Red Cross volunteers Joyce Gray (left), a Blood Donor Ambassador, and Joyce Scott (right) a Red Cross House volunteer. Photos by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    Katie Fehlinger, the Red Ball Host and Emcee, gave the audience details about the Red Cross House, which is located in University City.

    “It’s a disaster recovery center, a safe comfortable place where families stay together following a disaster like a home fire,” she said.

    Holly Bi attended the Red Ball for the first time with her husband George. Hearing about the work of the Red Cross throughout the night had a profound impact on her.

    “The footprint that they have and the amount of aid that they provide is just an amazing and enormous feat and something like tonight is very important so that they can continue helping out communities all over the world,” she said.

    Red Ball guests Holly and George Bi (left) and Jim Heaney (right). Photos by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross

    Jim Heaney attended the Red Ball with his wife, who works for Title Sponsor Independence Blue Cross. He said watching the event videos about the increasing number of catastrophes which require help from the Red Cross affected him.

    “It’s all the more vital that supporters and volunteers chip in to help make sure that every families’ needs are met when those times do hit,” he said.

    Thinking of attending the Red Ball next year? Jim’s parting message may inspire you. “This is my first year and it’s great. It’s a really great location. Nice outdoor space.

    Beautiful weather. Lots of friendly people and all around a great evening.”

    If you didn’t make it to the Red Ball this year, you can still donate to the Red Cross at redcross.org/donate or sign up to volunteer at redcross.org/volunteertoday.

  • American Red Cross Vice President Visits Southeastern PA Region

    By Dave Skutnik

    On January 17 and 18, American Red Cross Northeast Division Vice President Koby Langley visited the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region of the Red Cross. Southeastern Pennsylvania is one of nine regions in the Northeast Division, which covers 9 states from Pennsylvania to Maine.

    Langley spent time touring the region, visiting with staff and volunteers as well as board members from both the Philadelphia chapter and the Delaware Valley chapter. In addition, Langley also toured ongoing renovations at the American Red Cross Blood Services building in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia.

    Pictured are the staff and leadership volunteers of the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region. Photo by Dave Skutnik/American Red Cross.

    As part of his visit, Langley visited Philadelphia’s Red Cross House, a disaster recovery center where families stay together following a disaster like a home fire. He spent the morning serving breakfast to residents and talking with the staff and volunteers that work there.

    American Red Cross Northeast Division Vice President Koby Langley prepares breakfast at Philadelphia’s Red Cross House. Photo by Dave Skutnik/American Red Cross.
    American Red Cross Northeast Division Vice President Koby Langley speaks with a resident of the Red Cross House. Photo by Dave Skutnik/American Red Cross.
    American Red Cross Northeast Division Vice President Koby Langley shares a laugh with Red Cross House Residential Care staff member Alicia Quinones. Photo by Dave Skutnik/American Red Cross.

    American Red Cross Philadelphia chapter board member Lisa Stokes spoke with Langley, sharing her Red Cross story over breakfast.

    American Red Cross Northeast Division Vice President Koby Langley serves breakfast to Lisa Stokes, current Red Cross board member and past resident of the Red Cross House. Photo by Dave Skutnik/American Red Cross.

    Stokes and her family were affected by a home fire years ago, and spent time at the Red Cross House as part of their recovery. Since that time, Stokes has been an advocate for the Red Cross House and its services, later becoming a Red Cross volunteer and, more recently, a board member.

    American Red Cross Northeast Division Vice President Koby Langley with Philadelphia Red Cross board member Lisa Stokes. Photo by Dave Skutnik/American Red Cross.

    For more information on the Red Cross House, click here.

  • Mission Moment: Family continues path to recovery after home fire

    By Alana Mauger

    Stephanie Brown (far left) and her mother Verna Brown (second from right) with granddaughters (from left) Na’eemah, Khyleya and Ce’yanee at the Red Cross House Children’s Holiday Party on Dec. 20, 2023. Photo by Alana Mauger/American Red Cross.

    In April 2023, Stephanie Brown received an alarming call while at work. Her North Philadelphia home was on fire. She rushed home to witness the unthinkable.

    “All I could do was cry and watch as my house burned. We lost everything,” she said.

    The fire, Stephanie explained, happened next door, but it didn’t take long for the back of her home to catch fire, too. She’s grateful that her daughter, who was in the home with her boyfriend at the time of the fire, escaped when they saw smoke coming through the walls.

    “I never expected a fire before or knew anyone who had experienced a fire,” Stephanie shared. “To sit there and watch as you lose everything you have built over 20 years, it’s devastating.”

    After the fire, Stephanie and her family recovered at the Red Cross House, a one-of-a-kind disaster recovery center in West Philadelphia that supports families after disasters in a safe and comfortable environment. Families get their own room and key with a bathroom and three meals per day while they develop a recovery plan with an American Red Cross caseworker.

    “Everyone went out of their way to help me. There isn’t enough words to express the gratitude,” she said.

    In addition to support from the Red Cross, Stephanie took advantage of many free services and activities that the City of Philadelphia has to offer. That’s especially important since she’s now the primary caretaker of her three granddaughters Khyleya (age 13), Ce’yanee (age 11) and Na’eemah (age 3).

    “When you’ve experienced a fire, it’s extremely devastating and hard, but you’re never really alone, thank goodness,” she shared.

    Stephanie is still trying to rebuild, and they’re temporarily living with her mother Verna. The three generations of women came back to the Red Cross House on Dec. 20th for an annual Children’s Holiday Party – designed to help make the holiday season a little brighter for families who stayed there over the past year.

    At the party, families enjoyed a meal, cookie decorating with JNA Culinary Arts Institute, photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Red Cross mascot Fred Cross, a visit from the Philadelphia Fire Department and gifts – four gifts per child thanks to the generosity of Red Cross volunteers, staff and community partners.

    “Things like this make it better. Things like this go a long way,” Stephanie shared.

    As she and Verna got the girls bundled up in winter coats at the end of the party – all while juggling gifts from Santa, decorated gingerbread cookies and a large gift basket of goodies she won as a door prize – Stephanie added, “I can’t say enough about the Red Cross. Thank you.”

  • Red Cross House children’s holiday party spreads cheer

    American Red Cross volunteers and staff helped make the holiday season a little brighter on Dec. 20 at its annual Red Cross House Holiday Party for families impacted by local disasters over the past year. Here, families enjoyed a meal, cookie decorating with JNA Culinary Arts Institute, photos with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Red Cross mascot Fred Cross, a visit from the Philadelphia Fire Department and gifts. The joy on the children’s faces lifted everyone’s spirits.

    Check out news coverage from 6abc below or view event photos on Flickr.

    Coverage of the Red Cross House Children’s Holiday Party by 6abc.

    The Red Cross House is a one-of-a-kind disaster recovery center in West Philadelphia that provides support to clients in a safe and comfortable environment. Families get their own room and key with a bathroom and three meals per day while they develop a recovery plan with a Red Cross caseworker.

    In FY23, the Red Cross House provided 183 families — 338 adults and 187 children — with disaster recovery services, including 4,332 overnight stays and 12,996 meals. Visit our website to learn more.

  • A Mural Arts Philadelphia painting greets those who shelter at the Red Cross House

    By Maureen Zug

    Current “Boy with Raised Arm” mural at the Red Cross House in University City. Photo by Konrad Jones / American Red Cross

    Everything about the Red Cross House – the center for disaster recovery – has been built for the welcoming and comfort of clients who have suffered a disaster which resulted in the loss of their homes. Although their stays are only temporary, it is important that those we’re helping feel uplifted when they arrive at the Red Cross House to begin rebuilding their lives. Sidney Goodman’s mural “Boy with Raised Arm,” located at 40th Street and Powelton Avenue was designed with the intention to inspire and lift up the viewer – whether disaster client, Red Crosser, or member of the neighborhood.

    Renowned artist Sidney Goodman painted the original mural in 1990 under the auspices of Mural Arts Philadelphia. Goodman was notable for featuring the human figure in his work to explore various themes. He was an instructor at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Several his paintings can be found in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among others. The native Philadelphian also painted other murals in his signature realistic style within the city.

    Goodman’s original mural was later lost to a construction project at the Red Cross House. In 2002, a replacement mural was recreated by artist Brian Senft on the side of the newly renovated building. Overall, Senft has produced about a dozen or more murals in Philadelphia as a lead artist plus additional work as a contributor to mural team projects.

    Original “Boy with Raised Arm” mural by Sidney Goodman. Photo courtesy of Mural Arts Phialdelphia

    When facing the mural, the viewer sees a young boy, dressed in a brightly colored shirt emerging from a darkened background with his arm raised. The pose is reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty holding her torch. Both poses of the mural and the statue raise the eyes upward to take in the vertical figures and engender a sense of hope for the future.

    The mural also includes the famous quote by Walt Whitman, “I am large, I contain multitudes,” from his poem “Song of Myself,” which was published in the first edition of his 1855 collection of poetry Leaves of Grass. This quote expresses the notion that each person contains a multitude of identities, experiences, and potentialities. Human beings contain intersectionalities, which produce an intricate tapestry worthy of celebration and compassion. It’s fitting that the mural with Whitman’s quote now lives on the Red Cross House. It truly embodies themes of compassion and universality, two fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

    In “Boy with Raised Arm,” the Red Cross’ mission “to turn compassion into action” dovetails with Mural Arts Philadelphia’s mission to use the transformative power of public art to ignite positive social change. By translating empathy into tangible assistance and relief, the Red Cross strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people in need, no matter where they are or their individual identities. Each year, hundreds of visitors take mural trolley tours of West Philly and see this inspirational mural on the side of the Red Cross House. “Boy With Raised Arm” is a tangible example of the power of community partnerships and the healing power of Art.

    Thank you to Chad Eric Smith, senior director of communications and brand management of Mural Arts Philadelphia, for providing the content that make this article possible. Visit Mural Arts Philadelphia online to learn more.