Each year, Red Cross volunteers respond to hundreds of calls for help across Clayton, Fayette, Henry and Butts Counties, meeting the emergency needs of those affected by disaster, mostly single family home and apartment fires.

To ensure the continuation of these and other vital services, the Red Cross has launched its fifth annual South Metro HEROES Campaign, a unique fundraising concept that allows regular people from all walks of life to support the Red Cross in their own way.

The goal of the three-week campaign is to recruit 35 HEROES who will raise or donate $1,000 each. Sam’s Club is a corporate sponsor of the South Metro HEROES Campaign, and Lynette Peterson, Red Cross community volunteer is the enthusiastic chair.

“I’m very excited to chair the 2007 South Metro HEROES Campaign for the American Red Cross,” said Peterson. “This campaign will help to continue support of Red Cross programs in our community, especially disaster relief programs. Whether you’re a student, a stay-at-home mom or a business person, if you can commit to donating or raising $1,000 to support the Red Cross, you can make a HERO’s impact on our community- one you can be proud of all year long.”

During the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the Red Cross provided emergency assistance totaling over $194,638 worth of assistance to 812 residents of Clayton, Fayette, Henry, and Butts Counties. So far this fiscal year the Red Cross has provided $78,310 worth of assistance to 537 south metro residents.

In September 2006, Jonesboro couple Robert and Joyce Green became a fire statistic when they experienced a major apartment fire. Robert was at work and Joyce was visiting her sick father when she got word of the massive fire.

“When our apartment manager called to tell us that we had lost everything I was devastated. I didn’t know what to do,” said Joyce. The couple was later approached by their apartment manager who suggested that they call the Red Cross for help. A Red Cross official met the Greens just outside the remnants of their burned apartment.

“I couldn’t believe it when the Red Cross showed up on a Sunday,” said Joyce. The Greens received food, clothing, bedding and rental assistance with their new rental home, all courtesy of the Red Cross.

“Without the Red Cross I don’t know what we would’ve done,” Green added.

The Red Cross depends upon volunteers and financial contributions from the community in order to provide disaster relief for families like the Greens.

“There are many people with big hearts in the south metro community, but not everyone is able to get up at 1 a.m. and go out to a house fire,” added Peterson. “If you can’t actually go out to a disaster scene, you can still help a family who lost their home by becoming a Red Cross HERO, or by sponsoring a HERO with a financial contribution during this campaign.”

Anyone needing more information or wishing to become a Red Cross HERO this April should contact Laurie Kimbrell at (404) 309- 6508 or lkimbrell@arcatl.org. To make a secure donation, log on to www.smetroheroes.kintera.org

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