I don't know if you've been reading the news lately, but it'sbad.
The American Red Cross has been working tirelessly to provide relief to flood and fire victims in the Midwest and California, attempting to send aid to Red Cross chapters internationally (to help victims of the earthquake in China and the cyclone in the Phillippines as well as support troops deployed in Iraq), and continuing to provide small-scale relief on a local level to individual families affected by smaller disasters.
And, for the second time in our history (the other time being in 2005, during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts), we'reintrouble. $15-$30 million worth of it.
The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization which provides shelter, food, and assistance getting disaster victims back on their feet. No matter how big or small the disaster, the Red Cross will offer as much assistance as they possibly can. For a one-family fire, this means providing shelter until a new home can be found, and vouchers for items to help re-build a household. For larger disasters, this means providing safe shelters and regular meals on-site as well as delivering them throughout affected areas to people staying in their neighborhood.
To do this, the Red Cross relies on donations of money, time, food and services to function. And we're currently operating large-scale disaster relief operations like we've never run before. This means that we don't have enough existing donations of volunteer time, money, or items and services to help everyone without borrowing money. We're literally shuffling volunteers around the country to meet our needs.
Although I have only worked for the Red Cross for two weeks, I am 100% on board with them. We've opened twoshelters in the last 2 weeks for victims of the Monterey County fires, and I'll be spending a fair amount of time down there early next week for Mass Care work--handing out meals, working with clients, trying to gauge damage and needs of individuals.
Unlike some other "charity" or "aid" organizations, Red Cross has no hidden agenda and no funny financial finagling going on behind the scenes. We are simply an international and long-standing organization whose aim is to protect and serve those who have found themselves in desperate situations.
After over 100 years of helping you, I ask you to please take some time and help us.
Please. Donate to the National Disaster Relief Fund. Or find your local Red Cross chapter (this is mine) and make a donation there. All financial contributions to the American Red Cross are tax-deductible and they sure as Hell make you feel more useful than sitting around fretting every time a news bulletin comes on. I'm putting in a chunk of every paycheck until things are better, and let's face it, I'm poor as dirt.
And if donations of money are truly financially beyond you, please donate blood. We have a huge shortage at the moment.
Thank you. You have no idea how much even the smallest contribution can help at a time like this.
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