Red Cross Helps Q.C. Woman - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Red Cross Helps Q.C. Woman

By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com

The Red Cross plays a big hand locally with fire and disaster relief.

But the organization also helped one woman say goodbye to her dying father.

When Jakawana Minton was serving in the navy in the early 90s she got the call every daughter dreads.

Her father was dying and she couldn't afford to get there.

That's when the Red Cross stepped in.

"I made it before my dad passed away," said Minton.

The organization arranged for Minton to fly home to Arkansas see her dying father.

"It was really nice to have the Red Cross there," said Minton.

But that wouldn't be Minton's last brush with the Red Cross.

A few years later, while living in Virginia Beach with her family, their house caught on fire.

As soon as they got out of harm's way, the Red Cross was there to help, again.

"They actually provided a change of clothes for my kids, asked me if they needed toys or anything like that," said Minton.

Now she's living here in the Quad Cities working towards a degree at Western Illinois University.

But Minton still donates to the Red Cross often, remembering just how much it has helped her, and she's urging others to do the same.

"I mean, they help everyday, and it just needs to be a little more publicized," said Minton.