Friday, April 18, 2003

Red Cross serves military by connecting service members and their families

Many citizens are looking for ways to support and show their appreciation for American military personnel now deployed throughout the world. The American red Cross is continuing to support the military community through its Armed Forces Emergency Services program.

AFES is the official link between service members and their families that provides a variety of services including emergency messages announcing births, deaths and other serious situations. More than one million messages a year are delivered and services are provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in conjunction with the Department of Defense. Red Cross began providing this service in 1905.

AFES assists more than 1,100 military families each day by delivering urgent messages. Call centers' caseloads have been rising as deployments continue. The Metropolitan Atlanta Red Cross chapter handled 449 cases in February, nearly doubling the January caseload.

The Atlanta Red Cross is not collecting individual items or care packages to be sent to military personnel. The AFES program remains its focus in serving the military community. Anyone wishing to make a financial donation to the local Red Cross for administration of the AFES program amy do so by calling 404-876-3706, visiting www.redcrossatlanta.org or sending a check or money order to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 101590, Atlanta, Ga. 30392.