Red Cross Asks People to Join in During Red Cross Month
Organization Helping Those In Need For 130 Years

Newton, NJ, February 24, 2011 — March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is asking people to join them in helping those in need by volunteering their time, making a donation, taking a class, or participating in our Heroes Campaign.

“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, gives blood, takes a first aid class, or helps someone in the military, they join the Red Cross,” said Pat Day, Executive Director for the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross, “We want to say ‘thank you’ to all who support us. That support enables us to provide help and hope to those who need our assistance.”

For nearly 100 years, U.S. Presidents have called on people to support the American Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first to proclaim March as Red Cross Month in 1943 and since that time every president up to and including President Obama, have issued proclamations designating March as Red Cross Month.

The Sussex County Chapter has provided 93 years of continuous service in our community and through the support of our community; this past year we were able to respond to and provide assistance to 153 friends, neighbors and relatives affected by 15 different local disasters. Forty-six of those were people we helped when we responded to 3 multi-family disasters in just one two week period. We helped 36 military families send emergency messages, receive financial assistance and obtain counseling and referrals. We also briefed 69 families facing deployment on how to access Red Cross services anywhere in the world.  Through our Health & Safety Department 10,458 individuals learned lifesaving skills through 1,014 classes offered by the American Red Cross. Classes were held at chapter headquarters, in the workplace through employer sponsored training, schools and even the public library!

The Red Cross has been helping people for 130 years, responding to disasters, assisting members of the military, teaching lifesaving skills, and serving as one of the largest blood suppliers in the United States.

Nationally, the Red Cross responds to an average of nearly 200 disasters every day. The organization provides a round-the-clock link between those in the military and their families, and supplies blood and blood products to approximately 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

 “We work very diligently to help those in need,” said Day, who added: “Whether out on a disaster, alongside our troops or in a first aid class, Red Cross workers touch the lives of millions of people every year. When people join the Red Cross by volunteering, donating blood, taking a course or making a contribution, they enable us to continue our work, both here at home, and around the world”.

The local Red Cross has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month in March, including “dine-out” events throughout the county, training classes and  the “Heroes for the American Red Cross” fundraising campaign. The Heroes campaign concept is very simple.  An individual or group becomes a Hero by agreeing to raise at least $1,000 for the chapter. You can use our ideas or come up with an idea of your own.  The goal is to be creative and have fun! The Heroes campaign is classic “grassroots” fundraising designed to tap hundreds of small donors and capitalize on the high regard in which the American public holds the American Red Cross.  The Sussex County Chapter has set a goal of raising $55,000.  Heroes will raise $1,000 between 3/01/2011 and 3/22/2011; attend the campaign breakfast kick-off, and the campaign luncheon celebration. For more information, please visit www.sussexredcross.org or call MaryAnn Maikisch at 973-579-1600.