Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes declared March as American Red Cross month in the City of Frankfort Thursday afternoon with the following proclamation:
WHEREAS, more than 137 years ago, the American Red Cross was established as a humanitarian organization, guided by seven fundamental principles — including humanity, impartiality and independence — to provide services to those in need regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or citizenship status. Today, the American Red Cross is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world, and delivers its mission every day to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.
WHEREAS, every year, the American Red Cross responds to an average of more than 62,000 disasters across the country, from small home fires to devastating massive disasters. Last year’s large crises included mudslides in California, a volcano in Hawaii, wildfires in Colorado and California, destructive hurricanes in Florida and the Carolinas, and a devastating typhoon in the U.S. territories. Thousands of American Red Cross volunteers provided around-the-clock shelter for disaster victims, served millions of meals and snacks with partners, and distributed millions of relief items.
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross has a long history of helping our neighbors in need. In the Frankfort area, the Central Chapter assisted with four local disasters in the past year alone and helped save lives through the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign. Since the campaign launched in October 2014, the Central Chapter has worked with community partners to install hundreds of smoke alarms to make Frankfort households safer. Additionally, the Red Cross handles emergency military calls and collects blood from the generous blood donors in our area.
WHEREAS, March is Red Cross Month, a special time to recognize and thank the Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to help members of the community. The Red Cross depends on these local heroes to deliver help and hope during a disaster. We applaud our heroes here in Frankfort who give of themselves to assist their neighbors when they need a helping hand.
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.
WHEREAS, we dedicate the month of March to all those who support the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Our community depends on the American Red Cross, which relies on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission.
NOW THEREFORE, I, Chris McBarnes, do hereby proclaim March 2019 as American Red Cross month.
In addition, the American Red Cross sent out a press release about March being Red Cross Month. That release is as follows:
March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross asks people to be a hero for families in Indiana by becoming a volunteer, learning lifesaving skills, giving blood or donating to #help1family on Red CrossGiving Day, March 27.
“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to recognize our volunteers who provide hope and urgent relief to families in need every day,” said Chad Priest, CEO for the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross. “These heroes are our neighbors who give blood, save lives with skills like first aid and CPR, or provide care and comfort to families devastated by crises like home fires. We honor our volunteers and ask you to join them and make a difference.”
More than 75 years ago, March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness of the organization and its humanitarian mission. All U.S. presidents since Roosevelt have designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world through its workforce powered by more than 90 percent volunteers.
EVERY DAY, VOLUNTEERS HELP Every eight minutes in the U.S., the Red Cross connects with a family who has lost everything to a home fire or other disaster-the roof over their heads, their clothes, their most cherished possessions.Last year, Red Cross volunteers helped millions of people reeling from a second consecutive year of record wildfires, hurricanes, tragic shootings and other large disasters across the country. Trained Indiana volunteers responded to those disasters, as well as to local disasters in our state, such as the recent polar vortex and last spring’s flooding across Northern Indiana. In fact, the response and resiliency work of our volunteers helped more than 900 Indiana families last year.
Home fires continue to upend lives, especially in winter, when there is often an increased risk of home heating and cooking fires. Since the inception of our Home Fire Campaign in 2014, in Indiana alone, local volunteers installed more than 44,000 new smoke alarms, created more than 18,000 emergency escape plans, and saved at least 17 lives.
HOW YOU CAN #HELP1FAMILY Learn more about how you can help by visiting redcross.org/indiana.
- Become a volunteer: Help families affected by disasters and install lifesaving smoke alarms to keep neighbors safe from home fires. In some areas, you can also provide emergency assistance for military members and veterans, or help reconnect families separated by international conflict.
- Give blood: Make an appointment to donate lifesaving blood or platelets.
- Learn lifesaving skills: Register for a class to learn first aid, CPR and other skills.
- Make a financial donation: On March 27-American Red Cross Giving Day-donate at redcross.org/givingday,uniting with thousands of people like you to help families during the first devastating hours of a disaster. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief, such as food, shelter and other essentials, for families who need it most.
About the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross:
The Indiana Region serves 87 counties statewide through its six chapter areas: Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and the Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). For more information on the Indiana Region, please visit redcross.org/Indiana or follow the Indiana Region on Twitter @INRedCross, on Instagram at: @Indianaredcross or www.facebook.com/INRedCross