Red Cross Helped Dozens Get On Their Feet This Winter, But Resources Are Running Thin
By Ileana Diaz
PHILADELPHIA (CBS)--The Red Cross has been busy this winter. The organization is helping dozens of families get back on their feet and their resources are starting to stretch thin.
Sabrina Watters made it out of her burning home last week. It's now just rubble and she says her memory there was traumatizing.
"I was thinking I'm about to die because of all the flames, only thing I could think was to run."
She explains, "Right as I was leaving the stove exploded."
Leaving Sabrina and Devon Nelson homeless, with very little of their own.
"I came to the house with clothes that were on my back."
Sabrina and Devon are now one of dozens of families living at the Red Cross House. It has enough room for 125 people and the Executive Director says it's filled to capacity.
Chad Dion Lassiter says, "We've seen a record setting November, December and January against the back drop of the polar vortex and just a lot of challenges with our weather."
Those challenges force people like Sabrina and Devon to start from scratch to rebuild their lives.
Devon says, "It's a blessing to be able to come somewhere when you're going through a tragedy like this."
Sabrina adds, "But there's no place like home, there's nothing like unlocking your own door and coming to your own bed."
And until they can, hundreds of people are staying here, making their new beds and calling the Red Cross House their home.
Sabrina says, "It doesn't change the fact that everything is gone, but you have to move on."
The family Eyewitness News spoke to can't move into this home permanently, but they are planning on buying a new home and will be staying at the Red Cross House another 10 days.
