The American Red Cross Mile High Chapter is having an emergency of its own – one of its emergency-response vehicles packed with food, drinks, blankets and even teddy bears for children was stolen Sunday.
The four-door, white 1987 Chevy Suburban with Red Cross markings on the rear panels, is one of five response vehicles belonging to the Mile High Chapter. Aurora police are still searching for the vehicle taken from the Aurora station near East First Avenue and Havana Street.
Mitch Gass, a full-time volunteer for the Red Cross, said he and other volunteers arrived at the center about 4 p.m. Sunday to get the vehicle and respond to a house fire. It was the third emergency since Friday, he said.
“The vehicle was gone and broken glass (was on the ground) where it was parked,” Gass said.
With Aurora’s main response vehicle missing, the volunteer response team’s time was slowed, but not stopped. Volunteers loaded their own cars with supplies and went to the emergency.
“With the prime vehicle out of the picture, it hurts us a little bit,” Gass said. “We’re very upset about it.”
The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations and grants to keep running. The Mile High Chapter provides services to more than 420,000 people and responds to nearly 350 disasters each year.
Staff writer Bianca Prieto can be reached at 303-820-1201 or bprieto@denverpost.com.
