On Tuesday, May 16, residents of the May Apartments at SW 14th and Taylor fled the burning building. More than 100 people lost their homes as a result of the fire. On May 28 and June 4, we share our plate with the Red Cross Northwest Oregon Chapter. They arrived on the scene as Portland Fire & Rescue helped carry people and pets to safety while fighting the fire. The Red Cross provided water and emotional support and helped many residents get temporary shelter including at Portland State University. We will dedicate our collection to Local Home Fire Financial Assistance.

We also want to note that following the new FDA blood donor guidelines, the Red Cross is revising its screening protocols and will no longer discriminate against donors based on sexual orientation. We are grateful for the local Red Cross emergency response.