Did you know we have a Red Cross House in Philadelphia that serves as a recovery center for families affected by disasters, big and small? It’s the only center of its kind in the country that, in an average year, provides more than 300 families shelter, food and other resources as they plan their next steps. Merrill Thomas stayed at the Red Cross House after a fire broke out in his apartment. He was at school when he received a frantic call from his neighbor telling him to get out of his home. Merrill’s neighbors had frantically banged on his door, thinking he was home when the fire started in the back of the building. By the time Merrill arrived home, a second fire had ignited directly over his apartment. “I could see the flames shooting up," he said. "That was horrific." Once the fire was put out, there wasn’t much left for Merrill to salvage except for a few items of clothing. Volunteers from RedCrossPhilly quickly arrived on the scene and offered Merrill and others who were affe...