Fire Rescue News - COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SUPPORT FIRE VICTIMS
WEST ATLANTIC CITY-- Santa Claus traded in his sleigh for an Atlantic City fire truck Friday night. He made a stop at the Travel Lodge in West Atlantic City to hand out gifts to some special youngsters.
"I couldn't believe it," said fire victim Genii Degraffenreidt.
"Santa Clause watches no matter what time of year. So he decided to make a......Continue Reading
special trip because these kids have been good all year long and they lost their Christmas gifts," said Russelle Patterson, Disaster Relief Team Captain for the Red Cross.
Many of their original gifts were lost in a recent fire. Kids here make up part of over a dozen whom, along with their families, were displaced following a blaze in their Atlantic City apartment building on South Carolina Avenue early Monday morning.
Mesai Degraffeneidt is a mother of seven. Her large family makes up a part of the nearly 25 displaced residents. Many who have been calling the Travel Lodge home for the past couple of days. All of this occurred after they lost almost everything.
"It's been real rough. It's been hard out here. I have no clue. I don't know how to explain it. It's terrible. It's been a lot these past couple of days," said Degraffenreidt.
They say gifts, a warm meal and support from the community make a world of a difference.
"That's what I've been trying to do, keep their spirits up at least," said Degraffenreidt.
The Red Cross is still providing support to the families
