Still Resilient After Ike and House Fire

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- Chris and Amanda Gardiner were victims of Hurricane Ike. A huge tree snapped in two right over their manufactured home in Splendora. They were fairly lucky with FEMA, they received a check just two weeks after filing. Since they owned their lot, they decided to buy a used trailer to replace their home. Life was looking up. Then on Thanksgiving Day at around 6 p.m., their new home caught on fire.

Luckily, the Gardiners, along with their 8, 7 and 5 year old boys were visiting Amanda’s grandmother for the holiday. Their neighbors responded to the fire and called the fire department. Amanda’s grandmother reached out to Red Cross for assistance.

Amanda Gardiner, though thoroughly shaken at the time of the fire, now is showing her and her husband’s resiliency. They happened to own a small travel trailer that was stored at her grandmother’s property. They made the trip to collect the trailer and it is now serving as a temporary home for the family of five.

Unfortunately, the parents get to sleep in the front of the cab and the boys share a small bed in the back. “But, we have our health”, Amanda said, “our boys are fine, we were very lucky not to have been at home and Red Cross came to our rescue with food, coats and bedding within two hours of my mother-in-law’s call. We have plans to build on our lot or find another manufactured home. We will make it”.

Diane Hulan, Director of American Red Cross who serves a five county area including Montgomery County, said “we are very pleased to provide services in the event of disasters. This is due, in part, to funds received by Montgomery County United Way. When I go out to assist these families in need, whether after a fire like the Gardiners or after a hurricane, I find that most of them don’t want to accept our help. But I tell them, this is what we do. Everyone needs help once in a while and that is what Red Cross is there for.”

Montgomery County United Way funds non-profit organizations that provide solutions in priority areas determined by a study of the community’s needs. Vicky Shelledy, MCUW Director of Community Impact, stated “The American Red Cross is usually one of the first in after a disaster to help meet the immediate needs of the affected families. Our Investment Committee volunteers believe that the Red Cross Disaster Services program is vital for residents in our county and that supporting their efforts through funding is important to our community.”

The Montgomery County United Way is a not-for-profit organization working to “improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities.” Service centers in Conroe and The Woodlands along with the MCUW Helpline connect people to essential community resources. For more information about MCUW, please call 888-844-6289, ext. 235, 888-825-9682, ext. 235 for Spanish or visit the MCUW Web site.