Portage Park Fire Kills One, Displaces Dozens
A deadly fire ripped through a three-story Portage Park apartment building Saturday, killing one and displacing dozens.
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A deadly fire ripped through a three-story Portage Park apartment building Saturday, killing one and displacing dozens.
They planned to work in assembly line-fashion to pack up 75,000 pounds (34,019 kilograms) of food.
The agency said more than 60 people deployed to help those affected by Hurricane Florence are now in Florida to assist people who need everything from food and shelter to clean up services.
More than 3,000 Red Cross volunteers are on the ground in the Carolinas and many of them are from the Chicago area.
"There is an especially critical need for platelets to help cancer patients and type O blood donations for ongoing patient care and emergencies."
The North Maine Fire Department District said the blaze started on the sixth floor of the building around 7:50 a.m. in the 9300 block of Landings Lane.
The organization said it plans to send more than 700 workers for disaster relief efforts. From the Chicago area more than 17 will head east to the Carolinas.
"Type O in particular is critically needed right now to replenish the blood supply."
There's no word on what started a fire in Waukegan that left more than 100 people without a home.
The Red Cross is providing emergency services to everyone.
Volunteers with the Red Cross in the Chicago area have assisted displaced people at more than a dozen fires over the past few days.
Fifty-thousand cans of drinking water have arrived in flood-ravaged Texas from a company that's based in Chicago.
James Connelly is a logistics supervisor for the Red Cross, setting up shelters for people affected by Harvey in South Texas.
Here are some ways that you can assist victims of the storm.
CBS 2's Jeremy Ross met Kandis Fox and her kids earlier this week while looking into claims they had no heat.
As soon as a Red Cross truck from Chicago arrived in Baton Rouge, it was put to work transporting bottled water and ready-to-eat meals to flood victims.
After 14 hours of giving, the CBS Chicago Cares Disaster Relief Telethon raised more than $1,016,514 for the Red Cross.
Each year, the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago helps 1,400 families with disaster relief, due to home fires. On Tuesday, CBS 2 and CBS Radio are hosting the annual CBS Chicago Cares Telethon to support the Red Cross.
It will take place Tuesday from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.
The Red Cross says last Sunday's tornadoes illustrate how disasters can devastate communities, but it says the biggest threat to Chicago area families isn't severe weather, but fires.
The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago cut the ribbon on its expanded facility this morning at 2220 W. Harrison in the Medical District on the West Side.
Fire engines, trucks and ambulances jammed the blocks surrounding a burning apartment building in the Avondale neighborhood today.
Both Lifesource and the American Red Cross say they're in need of RH-negative donors. WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts.
Martha Carlos, spokeswoman for the Red Cross, has seen all kinds of non-cash donations, including stocks and bonds, unused gift cards and unused airline miles. CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports.
