The management of Wells Fargo recently made a $50,000 donation to support American Red Cross disaster relief work in Connecticut after the late October devastating snowstorm.

The Red Cross worked to support shelters in communities and supplied volunteers, equipment and food. Red Cross volunteers also have been working hand-in-hand with federal, state and local government to assess damage and to identify affected families needing additional resources. Red Cross case workers and health services staff continue to contact individuals identified through that process or who have reached out for help to provide counseling and advocacy services.

“Wells Fargo understands that this crisis is not over and that relief efforts will continue for some time. The range of needs created by a storm of this magnitude is significant and varied,” said American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region Interim CEO Mario Bruno. “We have been working on many fronts to help our neighbors.”

Bruno said that, beyond shelters, other services can include providing operational guidance to community groups or towns that operate independent shelters, as well as direct services like helping a client navigate the process to replace lost medications. “Our team has the skills and compassion to help. Donations like this from Wells Fargo allow us to get out into communities and neighborhoods and provide that help.”

“Long after all the power has been restored, Connecticut residents are feeling the impact of the storm considering all the damage which resulted to personal belongings and property,” said Joe Kirk, Wells Fargo’s Connecticut and New York regional president. “Understanding that it will take a while for life to return to completely normal for many, we decided to make this $50,000 donation to the Red Cross so that those still in desperate need of assistance can take advantage of the multitude of services the organization offers during critical times.”

Kirk also said the donation is going towards replenishing Red Cross supplies which were deployed quickly during the storm. “Wells Fargo is with our customers every step of the way through the good as well as the bad times. The Red Cross has a similar philosophy and that’s why this is a perfect partnership.”

During the aftermath of the storm when many were without electricity or were affected by the storm in other ways, Connecticut’s 1,500 Wells Fargo team members worked around the clock – often in stores with no power, phone or computer service – to ensure that the needs of its customers went uninterrupted.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. It is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, visit www.redcross.org.