March is Red Cross month

Darke County Chapter Marks Red Cross Month by Thanking Supporters and Volunteers

With March proclaimed as Red Cross Month by President Barack Obama in the Nation’s Capital and locally by the Darke County Commissioners today, recognizing and thanking the supporters and volunteers whose efforts enable the Red Cross to respond to disasters down the street, across the country and around the world.

“The Red Cross works tirelessly to be there with help and hope when people need it most–and we are grateful for the public support that enables us to continue our work – here at home and abroad,” said Lynne Gump, Executive Director, “our community and our nation depend on the Red Cross in times of need, and the Red Cross depends on the support of people in American to achieve its mission.”

“During Red Cross Month, we want to recognize the valuable supporters whose generosity makes the work of the American Red Cross possible,” Mary Lane, Board of Directors Chair, added. “In addition, Red Cross Month is a great time for people to get involved with the Red Cross, such as getting prepared; signing up for a CPR, first aid or another Red Cross course; giving a financial gift that can really save the day when the next disaster strikes, or getting involved as a volunteer.”

The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, comfort and hope to survivors of nearly 70,000 disasters each year; helps prepare communities for emergencies; is the largest single provider of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills to more than 5 million people a year; supports military members and their families, and provides international humanitarian aid.

The American Red Cross touches the lives of millions of people every year through its network of 34,000 employees and more than 600,000 volunteers in more than 2,000 locations across the United States and more than 30 countries around the world.

“The Red Cross has responded following the Haiti earthquake in January, working to turn despair into hope,” Michelle Mader, Philanthropy Chair said. “The Red Cross is there in Haiti now – and we are also here each day across the country for families who need us.”

Although major disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires capture national media headlines, the day-to-day work of the Red Cross often takes place in local communities. In the past year, the Darke County Chapter responded to fifteen local emergencies, assisted one-hundred and fifty military families and trained over twenty-two hundred people in lifesaving skills.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation in 1943, recognizing the American Red Cross as a true reflection of the humanitarian and volunteer spirit and calling on Americans to “rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross.” Every president since that time has recognized the work of the Red Cross with a Red Cross Month. President Obama signed the 2010 Red Cross Month proclamation on February 25.

The Darke County Chapter has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month in March, including Save-A-Life Saturday, a group class for CPR/AED training March 13th, special disaster training classes, special lunch and learn classes on Fridays from noon-1:00 p.m., Change-A-Life Weekend, March19th and 20th and of course, their tenth annual fundraising, “ A Night of Comedy and Caring on March 27th .

For more information about how you can get involved with you Darke County Red Cross or to sign up for on of the special events, contact the Chapter at 937.548.1002 or email darkecounty@darkecounty.redcross.org or you can find them on facebook and twitter. The Darke County Red Cross is a proud participating agency of the Darke County United Way.