Growing up, most of us are told not to answer the door if strange people are knocking. Red Cross Youth Services staff and volunteers even teach that in our Safe on My Own program at schools. But, somewhere between our sassy too-cool-for-caution teenage years and super-independent I-make-my-own-rules twenties, we tend to lose that rule. Someone’s knocking at the door? Well, we reason, might as well take a peek and see who it is. Ok, maybe just crack the door and figure out what they want…I mean, they came out of their way, right? Oh, they’re with the Red Cross? Let’s get them some lemonade!

 

Ok, we didn’t get any lemonade, but the first Saturday in May, AmeriCorps member Katie Beall, a few fearless volunteers and I went out knocking on stranger’s doors. No, we weren’t there as a safety test to see if they still abided by Safe on My Own rules—but we were there to encourage them to have safer homes.

 

In honor of AmeriCorps Week, Katie and I (mostly Katie) organized a service project in the neighborhoods with our highest fire responses. We went door to door, handing out fire safety information to 150 homes, and talking to 92 people about smoke detectors, escape plans, and drills. The fire departments for each neighborhood joined us and provided 6 families with smoke detectors and 4 families with batteries.

Not gonna lie, it felt pretty legit having a fire truck there, too. What felt even cooler, though, is knowing that there are a few safer homes in St. Louis—just another great part of being in AmeriCorps!

 

Until tomorrow…

 

Jillian