Photo Credit: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross
March is Red Cross Month, and with so many natural disasters in the news these days, we thought it’d be a great idea to highlight this important and historical organization- and ways in which we can all give back.
The American Red Cross was founded in 1891 by Clara Barton, and officially chartered by Congress in 1900 to:
- Provide assistance during national and international disasters
- Give relief to the military
- Serve as a means of communication between the Armed Forces and their families
Beginning in 1943 with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every president has declared March as Red Cross Month. In doing so, it serves “as a time to remind everyone of the work of the American Red Cross in communities across the country and around the globe – and how we depend on public support to help people in need.”
Interesting Facts about the Red Cross
- Responds to nearly 200 neighborhood emergencies every day
- Each year the American Red Cross collects nearly 6.1 million units of blood from roughly 3.6 million volunteer donors
- More than half a million people a year volunteer with the Red Cross
- Provided urgent assistance to more than 5.3 million people affected by international disasters
- More than 9 million people a year receive Red Cross training in first aid, water safety, and other skills that help save lives
Giving and getting involved with the Red Cross can be done in a number of ways:
- Donate– Making a difference in someone’s life begins with each of us. Making a donation is one of the fastest ways you can help someone in need.
- Volunteer– Time is one of life’s most precious commodities. Why not share this precious gift by giving some of it to others?
- Give Blood– We are all potential lifesavers. Giving one pint of blood can save up to 3 lives.
For more information about the Red Cross Month and ways you can give back, please visit redcrossblood.org.
The Retro 51 Blog 