Room at the Red Cross Inn

What better story is there at Christmas than a 22 year old expectant mother in need of shelter while awaiting the impending birth of her child? The American Red Cross provided shelter for her and about 80 others in six shelters around the Mountain Empire Chapter region near Bristol, Virginia.

Jack Mahanna is a Red Cross volunteer at the Clintwood Baptist Church shelter where he said the young lady stayed mostly to herself Christmas Day. Her parents and grandparents were with her and went to the hospital when she went into labor Saturday.

“She had her baby early Sunday morning,” Mahanna said. “She did return to the shelter on Monday. This was very exciting for everyone.”

Since the storm knocked out power, the Mountain Empire Chapter, and volunteers from surrounding Red Cross chapters, opened 22 shelter facilities for more than 1,900 people affected. Only six shelters remained open on Christmas Day. Clintwood had the largest population with 30 people.

Despite spending the holiday in a shelter, their spirits were high when Christmas came to the children there. An EMT in the shelter and members of the Baptist Church bought presents for the five children, dragged a tree in and put the presents around it.

“One Red Cross worker, who has a Santa-like beard, even dressed up as Santa,” said Mahanna. “The kids were so excited and grateful for what they had done. They were so grateful in fact, that Santa had to leave because he began to cry.”

In addition to the events of Christmas Day, the Southern Baptist mobile kitchen and local churches cooked and served over 3,000 meals according to American Red Cross Public Relations Director, Amy Whittaker from Roanoke, Virginia.

“So far, a grand total of 320 disaster workers, including paid, volunteer and spontaneous, have provided service throughout the region,” Whittaker said. “We’ve had a great partnership with the Virginia Baptists.”

She was truly impressed by the volunteers who spent the holiday in the shelter. This was the second Christmas John White has spent as a volunteer in a Red Cross shelter. The first was during the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in 2005 and he spent this one in the Grundy Baptist Church shelter.

“I can honestly say these are two of the nicest Christmas’ I’ve ever had,” White said.

The Grundy shelter was jointly operated with the Department of Social Services (DSS). The minister of the church held a service on Christmas Eve. Several DSS employees prepared a special meal for Christmas Day.

“Everyone attended (service Christmas Eve) and then they had their meal the next day, said White. “We really tried to make it a good Christmas for them.”

By Monday Whittaker said they were down to just two shelters and expected to close them by the end of the day today (Tuesday). Volunteer Jack Mahanna was impressed by the people during his Wednesday thru Saturday stay in the Clintwood shelter.

“They are very nice and so friendly,” he said. “That includes the clients, the Pastor and the church members who were there doing everything they could to make people comfortable. People's spirits were high on Christmas Day. People had been away from their homes for several days and were just glad to be at the shelter where they could get a hot meal and warmth.”

Apparently, there was more than just room at the Red Cross inn this Christmas.