FILE PHOTO This fire not only gutted a home, it tossed two people out onto the street. Luckily, Pahrump has no lack of helping hands. Advertisement

From Sept. 1, 2007, to Feb. 27 the Nye County Fire Rescue Service responded to 38 residential fires which displaced a total of 27 people.

Out of those needing assistance, only eight sought or accepted help from the Red Cross. The ones who did accept help are often grateful but need more.

After such an event, families are often left not knowing where to turn, as is the case of Dawn Reese and her son, who lost everything in a fire earlier this year.

Victims of fires and other disasters can be in need of everything from clothing and pet food to household furnishings and appliances and even a place to sleep.

The enormity of the situation makes a normal life of kids to school, dad going to work, mom shopping for groceries and dinner on the table, homework completed and a good night's sleep an overwhelming struggle under such adverse circumstances.

Often a friend or church member will extend a helping hand or, as was the case with the Reeses', a neighbor contacted the Pahrump Valley Times to put out a call for help and to let people know there has been a tragedy and that someone has established a donation bank account.

The account is titled Dawn's Fire Fund and the financial institution is Bank of America.

The Red Cross was contacted to lend a hand, but the funds available capped at enough to purchase a week stay at a local hotel, a couple of complete sets of clothing for Reese and her son, and enough economical meals to last the two of them for about a week.

The point is this: No one in Pahrump needs to allow a tragedy to paralyze their lives.

More help exists in this county than any other in the state of Nevada. All victims have to do is gain access to it.

The following is a list of service outlets. Some providers offer more than one service.

The Salvation Army will help with emergency housing for burn-out victims or housing is available at the shelter in Las Vegas.

They can also help with prescriptions provided they are not narcotic, provide three days worth of food once every three months and issue grocery vouchers to one of the local supermarkets and issue vouchers for the Thrift Store for household items and clothing.

The Pahrump Family Resource Center can provide emergency shelter options or find a more permanent shelter, depending on the circumstances. They also have a food bank that is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Resource Center also has a clothes barn, furniture, some appliances, linens, dishes, cooking utensils, etc.

Nye County Health and Human Services can help replace medicines under the right circumstances, and those include proving a no-fault loss of income for the consumer, and they have a one-time, emergency-only food bank that includes toiletries.

There are numerous food banks around town. Some of them are one-time only, some are periodic and some are open every day.

No to Abuse will provide non-perishable emergency food once every three months.

First Southern Baptist Church will issue a one-day emergency supply of food.

Oasis Outreach provides fresh groceries like produce, dairy products and bread, and the food bank is open either at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m. Sundays for only a short time at a stretch.

Pahrump Community Church has a food bank open every Monday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those meeting the requirements. Participants can get fresh vegetables, bread and some dairy products.

On the Internet is a group called Freecycle. The idea is to give away those things not needed or used before they find a home in the county landfill. Freecycle is a national organization, and the local group Web site address is www.groups.yahoo.com/group/pahrumpfreecycle.

Computer access is available with a Pahrump Community Library card. The group is locally owned and moderated. Join now; it might come in handy later.

Besides those services listed here, there is help for loss-of-income victims with rent and utilities, programs for low income families to help pay the electric and water bills and, of course, the Nevada Welfare Office.

The services are available, but each requires documentation of some type in order to help. Keeping those necessary documents safe is imperative. A fire-proof file box is a good idea.

Documents needed are Social Security cards for every member of the household, the last two pay stubs for any working household members, driver's license or picture ID, the latest utility bill with the victim's address on it, mortgage payment information, banking information and rental agreements and receipts.

Documents like last bills and check stubs may be duplicated by the service provider, but all other documentation really needs to be kept in a safe place along with the phone numbers for service providers, insurance companies and the like.

One other thing: None of the services mentioned is funded with taxpayer money. Generosity of businesses like Albertson's and Smith's, national food banks, programs through Valley Electric Association, community contributions and grants funneled through the local United Way make these services possible. The Salvation Army is self-supporting.

Just remember, an emergency is an emergency and not even the government wants to see citizens suffer unnecessarily.

Be prepared for anything. Even clipping this article and adding it to the fire-proof file might not be such a bad idea.

Donations are still welcome to help Dawn Reese through the bank account set up by her neighbors.