FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date:  September 9, 2005
Contact:  Gayle Falkenthal, American Red Cross, pager 619-217-1010
             

FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER OPENS SATURDAY, SEPT 10 TO ASSIST HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUEES

(SAN DIEGO) - To effectively assist families and individuals now in San Diego after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross announces the opening of a Family Assistance Center (FAC) on Saturday, September 10.   The center is located at 4579 Mission Gorge Place in San Diego.  It is located near the Grantville station of the San Diego Trolley.

The center will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., including weekends, for a minimum of two weeks. 

Numerous agencies and organizations will co-locate at the FAC to provide a single convenient location for evacuees to access services including food and clothing, household goods and furniture, health services, housing, schools, transportation, employment, child care, recreation, and affiliation with religious and professional groups.  The Salvation Army will partner with the Red Cross, providing meals and snacks on site at the Center.  Catholic Charities arranged for the use of the space to house the Center. 

“Our goal is to focus on the efficient delivery of services to families and individuals ravaged by Hurricane Katrina,” said Ronne Froman, Red Cross CEO, “This center will allow us to put all the key agencies together under one roof so evacuees can get help in one convenient location.”

“My thanks go to the County and City of San Diego, Catholic Charities and Salvation Army for their partnership with us in making this come together so quickly,” said Froman. “We’re just getting the long recovery process underway, and this partnership will serve us well as we continue our efforts to provide for the recovery of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina over the long term.”

The American Red Cross will register families and individuals coming into the Center to assure that access is limited to those displaced by Hurricane Katrina. 

The Center will be organized by needs rather than by agency.