March is Red Cross Month

2/27/2017 (Permalink)

Founded in 1881, the American Red Cross is a charitable organization that relies on donations and volunteers to carry out their mission. Whether it is disaster relief, blood donations, military family support, or training and certification in CPR, lifeguarding, first aid and more, the Red Cross is committed to helping those who need it most. The American Red Cross is part of the Global Red Cross Network, the world's largest volunteer network found in 187 countries, according to redcross.org.

Every year, March is declared Red Cross Month by the President of the United States. The American Red Cross celebrates by honoring the "everyday heroes" who support and carry out the mission of the Red Cross by donating, giving blood, taking a class or volunteering.

SERVPRO began a partnership with the American Red Cross in 2013, and became an official Disaster Responder partner in 2016. The Disaster Responder program provides families and individuals immediate support, comfort and assistance when a disaster, such as a house fire, happens to them. Disaster Responders also help communities prepare for disasters ahead of time by participating in preparedness activities such as the Smoke Alarm Installation Campaign. 

Around 3.1 million people donate blood through the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross collects and processes about 40% of the nation's blood supply to approximately 2,600 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Volunteers constitute about 90% of the American Red Cross workforce, making it possible to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters every year, most of them home and apartment fires.

SERVPRO of Quincy is hosting a community blood drive with the American Red Cross on May 16th. Please call our office at 217-223-2993 for more details. 

To learn more about the American Red Cross, or about how you can get involved, visit redcross.org.