News 6 helps get results for veteran displaced by fire days before Thanksgiving

Nearly all of Don Snyder's possessions were destroyed

WINTER PARK, Fla. – Disabled Marine Corps veteran Don Snyder wrote a letter to Santa that literally doubled as a cry for help. 

Snyder sent the letter to News 6. It details how on Monday, a fire ripped through an abandoned apartment in his building, causing smoke and soot to seep into his home, destroying nearly everything inside.

"It smelled like the worst barbecue you would ever go to," Snyder said. "I got smoke damage throughout my whole place, it's going to cost several thousand dollars for my clothes alone to get cleaned."

Just days before Thanksgiving, Snyder was out on the street.

"I was sleeping on my office floor," Snyder said. 

Snyder's apartment after the fire

News 6 reached out to his apartment complex, Evergreen Apartments, and the property manager confirmed the fire did happen in an abandoned unit, but claimed most other residents had no issues and that their renter's insurance should cover it. 

However, Snyder said when he recently changed insurance companies, he didn't realize his renter's policy had been canceled. Still, Snyder couldn't go home and wasn't getting any responses from the apartment complex, its property managers or his insurance. 

That's when he said he reached out to the News 6 investigators. 

"The very next day I got a call," Snyder said. 

In most cases, the fire department would alert the Red Cross about anyone displaced by a fire. News 6 investigator Adrianna Iwasinski called the organization. A spokesperson said that for some reason, they were not alerted about Snyder's situation.

Because News 6 contacted the Red Cross, they immediately stepped in, giving Snyder enough money to get a hotel for the Thanksgiving weekend. 

"It got me to sleep in a normal bed," Snyder said with a smile on his face. "News 6 with Getting Results."

Snyder's air conditioning unit after the fire

Red Cross spokesman Leo Alvarez said they will continue to help Snyder. The organization released this statement to News 6:  

"The American Red Cross appreciates the help provided by your reporter, Adrianna Iwasinski and all the News 6 team. News 6 received a letter from Marc Snyder, a disabled veteran, whose apartment was damaged by a fire in a neighboring apartment. Ms. Iwasinski recognized that Red Cross might be able to help Mr. Snyder and contacted us. Thanks to her efforts, the Red Cross was able to provide Mr. Snyder with immediate assistance that could be used for alternate housing, meals or any other disaster caused need. In the coming weeks, the Red Cross will continue to support Mr. Snyder’s recovery efforts.  

The American Red Cross helps victims of more than 50,000 house fires and similar events each year though the generous donation of time from our amazing volunteers and through the financial support of individuals across America. Folks interested in helping people in situations like Mr. Snyder’s can contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS(1-800-733-2767) or at RedCross.org. The victims of disasters can let their families and friends know they are ok by registering at SafeAndWell.org."

According to Snyder, he will be able to move back into his apartment once it's cleaned. However, all of his possessions are gone. He's hoping to get more answers when the fire marshal releases the cause of the fire, which he expects will be happen this week. 


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