Billings, Mont.-based First Interstate Bank and First Interstate BancSystem Foundation are partnering to help the American Red Cross provide wildfire relief across the West and Midwest.
Bank employees helped with blood drives and installed fire alarms in homes, noted Tom Severson, First Interstate Bank market president for Missoula, Mont.
The American Red Cross has provided 6,700 overnight stays for nearly 1,500 residents along with more than 63,500 meals and snack and relief items for 1,571 households since disaster relief work began in June. Of the 900 Red Cross disaster workers responding, 79 are trained to support health and mental health services and spiritual care needs in shelters.
“[The Red Cross is] a wonderful organization and we feel a strong connection to the Red Cross and all the good the organization does,” Severson added.
“Here in the West, we take care of each other in times of crisis, and First Interstate Bank’s commitment to those affected by wildfires proves that,” added Montana Red Cross Executive Director Diane Wright. “The Red Cross workforce — 90 percent of whom are volunteers — have been diligently sheltering, feeding, and supporting wildfire evacuees and others affected by the many wildfires across the West and Midwest.”
