Many times, the first sign of hope for someone impacted by a home fire or a disaster situation is seeing an American Red Cross Emergency Response or Multipurpose Response Vehicle arrive on the scene. And these disasters are more common than you in think. In fact, the Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes and is ready to respond 24/7. 

The ERVs and MRVs are at the heart of the life-saving mission of the Red Cross, delivering water, warm meals, and emergency supplies to people in need, traveling nearly 7,000 miles per year. 

With more than 300 ERVs across the nation and 10 stationed across the Texas Gulf Coast region, it is imperative to keep these vehicles packed with supplies to be prepared to deliver hope and recovery to the thousands of families impacted by disasters every year. 

Donations from community members are key to keeping these vehicles ready to respond. As part of the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the Red Cross can use your financial donation to reach more people in our communities need more quickly. 

“We know our community is generous and understands the importance the Red Cross plays in responding to house fires, emergency incidents and large-scale disasters across the Texas Gulf Coast,” said Shawn Schulze, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross region. “This holiday season, we are asking this community to help us ‘Pack the ERVs” with the needed supplies to be ready to respond to our neighbors during their time of need.”

Beginning Giving Tuesday, November 28 through Sunday, December 31, Phillips 66 will match $250,000 in donations to Pack the EVR. 

Here’s what your donation will provide: 
$10 provides 2 blankets.
$20 provides one of each: hand sanitizer, blanket, meal, snack, beverage, and comfort kit
$50 provides one fire kit and a snack.
$75 provides two cleanup kits, two snacks and drinks and a tarp
$100 provides one fire kit, one clean-up kit and comfort supplies for a family of our, two blankets and three hand sanitizers.

Join us this holiday season as we prepare our Emergency Response Vehicles for disasters. Donate today at redcross.org/Texas. 

Story by Carrie Hulsey