March Is Red Cross Month

During Red Cross Month, Help People In Need By Supporting The American Red Cross

Monday, March 5, 2012 — During March, the American Red Cross is asking everyone to help people in need by supporting the lifesaving services it provides.

“Please remember those who need our help and support the Red Cross by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, taking a class, or giving blood,” said Jason Bange, executive director of the McKean-Potter Chapter. “We want to thank everyone for their generosity, which has enabled us help people here at home, across the United States, and around the world.”

March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world; collects and distributes more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than 9 million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year.

In the last year here in the McKean and Potter Counties area, the Red Cross responded to 17 local emergencies, assisted 19 military families and trained 1,700 people in lifesaving skills. And, people from this area donated over 2,600 units of blood.

“Red Cross Month is a great time for people to support our mission,” Bange said. “Their kindness will enable us to continue our work, both here at home and across the globe.”

The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping the people the Red Cross services.

The McKean-Potter Chapter has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month, including a Disaster Services volunteer meeting on March 17th as well as a Community CPR/First Aid class that same day. The chapter will also be unveiling its newly acquired Disaster Response Trailer and will also be participating in the Potter County Weather Drill on March 29th.

Anyone interested in becoming a Disaster Volunteer is encouraged to contact the chapter prior to the March 17th meeting and also to attend the meeting which is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. All necessary training is provided and volunteers could have the opportunity to deploy to national disaster incidents such as the recent tornadoes in the midwest. For more information about Red Cross programs and services, please contact the chapter office.