Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Donations sought for local Red Cross

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

There’s still time to help the South Metro Chapter of the American Red Cross, which serves Fayette County residents along with those in Clayton, Henry and Butts counties.

The group’s annual grassroots fund-raising campaign ends this month, but so far more than $17,000 in cash has been raised to support the relief efforts of the Red Cross. Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones noted that the Red Cross helped 17 families there in 2003 when a heavy rain storm wrought severe flooding, damaging many homes.

Jones said it is comforting for emergency responders to know the Red Cross is available to help families who experience a tragedy such as a fire loss.

Timothy M. English, CEO of the metro Atlanta chapter of the Red Cross, noted that the agency also conducts numerous educational programs including safety and emergency preparedness plans for schoolchildren.

English recalled how one Fayette family had been burned out of its home, and they initially rebuffed the offer of Red Cross help from a firefighter. But a school official later convinced them to meet with the Red Cross, which was able to provide relief for the family to help get them back on their feet, he said.

The Heroes fund-raising campaign is twofold. In addition to raising money for the organization, it also recognizes the Red Cross heroes who serve as volunteers, helping the Red Cross squeeze the most they can out of every dollar donated.

The Red Cross helped thousands of Florida residents after the multiple hurricanes that hit during last year’s hurricane season. The organization is also famous for its CPR and safety classes, which are an effort to help prevent tragedies, English noted.

Blood donations are also needed, as the metro area imports about 4,000 units of blood a month because it can’t keep up with demand through local donations, English said.

Anyone wishing to make donate money online can visit www.southmetroheroes2005.kintera.org for a secure online transaction, officials said. The tax deductible pledge may also be made by calling Ruben Brown of the Red Cross at 404-290-2851.

Among the agencies participating in the Heroes campaign are Rescue Air 1, which flies out of Falcon Field, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, World Airways, Greystone Power Corporation, Southern Regional Health System and the Fayette County Board of Education.