The Process
From disaster to the path forward.
Most fire-relief programs take weeks. Ours takes 48 hours. Here's exactly what happens when a Springfield family works with Forged By Fire.
Fire Department Referral
The Springfield Fire Department's Public Information Officer is our direct partner. When a family loses their home, they're asked, at the scene or shortly after, if they'd like support from Forged By Fire. The family never has to track us down in the chaos.
- Direct partnership with SFD. no middlemen
- Family gives consent; we get the referral same day
- No forms, no applications in the first contact
We Reach Out: Within 24 Hours
Our team contacts the family within 24 hours of the fire. The first call is about listening. understanding the specific family, what they lost, what they have left, who needs what. Not a needs-assessment form. A real conversation.
- Warm, unhurried phone call. no checklists
- Identify most-urgent needs in the next 48 hours
- Confirm safe contact point and delivery logistics
Immediate Support Delivered
A $500 pre-loaded emergency debit card, clothing for every family member, and essentials are delivered within 48 hours of the fire. Not weeks. Not after verification. When the family is still processing, the support shows up.
- $500 debit card. use for what they need most
- Clothing, shoes, toiletries sized for every family member
- Resource packet: insurance, Red Cross, local housing partners
Ongoing Care & Transitional Housing
We follow up weekly. Families who need transitional housing can move into our unit, up to 5 families at a time, with case management and a clear path to permanent housing. Some families need a week. Others need six months. We stay until they're rebuilt.
- Weekly check-ins and individualized support plan
- Transitional housing with case management
- Referrals to counseling, financial literacy, long-term services
THE KEYSTONE
Our partnership with the Springfield Fire Department is what makes this possible.
Without the Springfield Fire Department's same-day referrals, we'd be chasing fires in the news. With them, we're at the table the moment it matters. We are deeply grateful for their trust and partnership.
Help us keep showing up in the first 48 hours.
Your donation funds the response. $500 covers one family's full emergency package.
Donate to Forged By Fire