March is Red Cross Month and the American Red Cross is taking this time to recognize the nation’s “everyday heroes” who reach out to help people when they are in need.
The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters of all sizes in this country every year. The organization 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. The Red Cross also collects and distributes about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains millions of people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills.
“Our heroes are our volunteers, our blood donors, people who take our classes or those who make a financial contribution to help us help others here in our community,” Community Chapter Executive Nancy Litton said in a statement.
“During Red Cross Month we thank them and encourage everyone to discover their inner hero by giving time to help people in our community,” she said.
For more than 70 years, United States presidents, including President Barack Obama, have designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world.
Last year in the Carolina Piedmont Region, which includes Rowan County, the Red Cross responded to 698 emergencies, assisted 1,800 military families and trained 82,303 people in life-saving skills. People in the region donated 96,917 units of blood.
“Red Cross Month is also a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross. It’s easy,” Litton said. “They can become a Red Cross volunteer, work on a preparedness plan for their household, give blood, or take a Red Cross class.”
The Red Cross 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 people in need.
Visit the Hanford Dole Chapter of the American Red Cross online at www.redcross.org/nc/salisbury to learn more.