9NEWS and other Colorado broadcast teamed up to host the four-hour telethon. The telethon supported American Red Cross Disaster Relief efforts, the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation and their tremendous help to reduce wildfires.
Volunteers from Red Cross answered phones at the Rocky Mountain PBS studios. All of the proceeds went directly to the Colorado chapters of the American Red Cross and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Foundation.
An extraordinarily hot and dry summer has already become Colorado's most destructive wildfire season in history - with more than a dozen wildfires forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate and destroying more than 500 homes. Red Cross workers and Firefighters have been on the scene of the wildfires since June 9 helping to meet the disaster-related needs of local residents.
As of July 7, the Red Cross has responded to the wildfires by deploying about 600 trained disaster workers who have operated over a dozen shelters and evacuation centers across the state providing more than 1,900 overnight shelter stays. More than 45,000 meals and snacks were served and more than 15,000 relief items have been given to the evacuees. Around 8,000 health and mental health consultations have been provided to those who have lost homes and family to the wildfires.
Nicole Bouchard contributed to this report.
(KUSA-TV © 2012 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)