Red Cross appeals to mayors for donations

BOB MARTINSON/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Alaskans have pledged $1.035 million to help Asian tsunami victims, but now the American Red Cross hopes the state's residents will again open their hearts and wallets for people here who also need the organization's help.

To promote this fund-raising campaign, the Red Cross on Friday morning kicked off "Help at Home - Alaskans to Alaska," at the Mat-Su Borough's public safety building in Wasilla.

"Those donations [for victims of the Dec. 26 Asian tsunami] were earmarked specifically for the Asian tsunami relief and we have to honor the intent of those donations, and that left us short," said Tanya Larrabee-Boehm, branch manager of the the Mat-Su's Red Cross office.

The Red Cross appealed to the Mat-Su area's mayors for help in local fund-raising efforts.

Joe Mathis, the American Red Cross' chief executive officer for Alaska, made the appeal to Wasilla Mayor Dianne M. Keller, Wasilla Deputy Mayor Howard O'Neil, Mat-Su Borough Mayor Tim Anderson, Deputy Borough Mayor Jim Colver and Palmer city council member Steve Carrington. Palmer Mayor John Combs and Mayor Dale Adams of Houston were unable to attend.

Dennis Brodigan, the borough's director of emergency services, and many members of the Central Mat-Su Fire Department were on hand as well. Brodigan also serves on the board for the Red Cross here in the Valley.

The Alaska branch of the American Red Cross office is looking to raise $500,000 as soon as possible.

One couple attending Friday's event, Evelyn Stearns and John Edwards of Big Lake, just lost their house a week and a half ago. They came to thank the Red Cross and let the mayors know how important their efforts are to victims in Alaska.

"The Red Cross was there when our house was still burning," Edwards said. "I mean, I couldn't believe these people were there to help us immediately."

Stearns and Edwards, who have four teen-agers, had no insurance and lost all their belongings. "We're just so thankful to the Red Cross and this young lady," Edwards said, gesturing to Larrabee-Boehm, "for being there when we needed help. They got us emergency supplies, and after everything they had done for us, we actually had some money to stay in a motel that night."

Keller said she knew firsthand how much the help of the Red Cross and the Central Mat-Su Fire Department means to people after her house once burned.

"These people of the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, they truly do their job well," she said. "I live in a modular home that should have burned to the ground, but thanks to them, it didn't. They came and they saved my house, but I remember looking back on that personal disaster and thinking how important it is for help and thinking how important it is when these things happen in your life."

The Red Cross helps not only with blankets and kitchen items and clothing for children, but other mundane things people need in their daily lives.

"But they also support you with things like grief counseling and things that most people don't see that are so important, and all of those things cost money," Keller said. "So I would ask that everyone join with me in support of the Red Cross. Instead of having a latté, give 'em your latté money if nothing else, because these people that we're trying to help are our neighbors and they are our community."

Nearing the end of the presentation, Mat-Su Borough Deputy Mayor Jim Colver handed a personal check to Mathis, challenging all others to "dig deep."

Donors may go either to the American Red Cross office in Wasilla, located at 262 E. Nelson St., or call the Red Cross at 357-6060 in Wasilla, or (907) 646-5413 in Anchorage.

In addition, Wells Fargo has set up an account for the campaign called the "Red Cross Alaskans to Alaska Fund."

The Web site for the Alaskan Red Cross is www.alaska.redcross.org.