Red Cross Month

This March, the American Red Cross of the Western New York Region is honoring those who make its mission possible during the 80th annual American Red Cross Month celebration — a national tradition that began in 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation. Overall, more than 1,800 people serve as volunteers throughout the 27-counties that comprise the Red Cross of Western N.Y. region.

“When help can’t wait during emergencies, people in our western New York, Finger Lakes and Southern Tier communities rally together to provide relief and hope for neighbors in need,” said Nick Bond, Regional CEO of the Red Cross of Western New York. “This humanitarian spirit is at the heart of our community, and we are proud to honor all those who make our mission possible during this year’s Red Cross Month celebration. Others can join in their commitment by donating, volunteering, giving blood or platelets, or taking a lifesaving skills course to make their community a safer place.”

Those wishing to participate in Red Cross Month can visit redcross. org to offer financial support, make an appointment to give blood or platelets, become a volunteer, or take a class in lifesaving skills, such as first aid, CPR and how to use an AED. On March 22, people can also participate in the annual Red Cross Giving Day campaign by donating at redcross.org/ givingday to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

CONTINUING CLARA BARTON’S LIFESAVING LEGACY Today’s Red Cross volunteers, blood and platelet donors, and supporters are advancing the lifesaving legacy of Clara Barton — one of the most honored women in U.S. history — who founded the American Red Cross in 1881 in Dansville. Her vision to prevent and alleviate human suffering has never wavered: Generation after generation, people have come together to adapt this timeless mission for their communities’ most urgent needs.

Today in the Western New York region, this includes:

• Disaster Action team volunteers who leave their homes, often in the middle of the night, to respond to home fires and provide aid, comfort, and financial support to impacted families. WNY volunteers responded to a total of 881 disasters in the Red Cross’ last fiscal year, most of them home fires.

• Volunteers with expertise in mental health and spiritual care who work with families who have experienced disaster, including the loss of loved ones, to help them cope with their grief and mourning.

• Volunteers who leave their homes and families for deployments to other areas of our nation, or even international sites, to respond to large scale disasters. Dozens of western New York volunteers traveled to Florida to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian, and to western states battling huge wildfires, and to Kentucky to provide relief in the aftermath of historic flooding. These are just a few of many examples.

PREVENT A BLOOD SHORTAGE

When volunteer blood and platelet donors lend an arm this March, they’ll help keep the blood supply from dropping this spring. All who come to give blood, platelets or plasma March 1-31 will receive a $10 Visa Prepaid Card by email. Plus, they’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $3,000 Visa Prepaid Card. There will be five lucky winners.

Red Cross Month

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