Red Cross dealing with its own disaster

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - From the moment the tornado struck, the American Red Cross has been offering food and shelter to displaced families.

But they've been working nonstop over the past week, after two tornadoes hit the area.

And yet despite all the help they've provided, they need help themselves.

Two volunteers from Lulu’s were putting the finishing touches on a meal for tornado victims.

Donated food doesn't mean it has to be canned.

"We are serving up some jambalaya today,” said volunteer Jonathan Ballard. “Some whole kernel corn, some baked beans and served with a roll.”

These volunteers from Lulu's cooked enough food for 200 people.

"I got a call towards God, and I felt like he was pullin me to do this today. So I had to go,” said Ballard.

The food was loaded onto a Red Cross truck and offered to our neighbors in need.

But along with this disaster, the American Red Cross has been dealing with a disaster of its own.

Last week, the facility was hit by an EF-1 tornado, damaging most of their cars and destroying three trailers with response gear.

Communication Specialist with the American Red Cross Elizabeth Saunders said, "We've had to rent vehicles, we've had to call upon chapters in the northern part of the state to give us some of their vehicles, give us some of their emergency response vehicles so that we can get out and continue to serve those that need help.”

The local Red Cross chapter is dealing with its own insurance issues, and yet despite it all, it has still managed to offer help to many appreciative victims, like Debra Smith, giving out food and other essentials to weather this crisis.

"We need to really do more for the Red Cross before these kinds of things,” said Smith. "We know that it takes money for them to do this so why can't we reach out to them more where they can be able to help us when we be in need."

Whether the crisis is out in the community or right in front of them, the Red Cross is unfazed.

The American Red Cross is taking donations to help with the cause.

Saunders said, "The Red Cross needs the help to be able to respond to this disaster, but disasters that happen everyday- the fires that happen, any flooding that we might have. So we need the help all year long, and not just during the major disasters that are all over the news."

If you’d like to help, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or go to redcross.org