MARCH IS RED CROSS MONTH!

     75 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt first proclaimed March as Red Cross Month to raise awareness of the organization and its critical humanitarian mission. During Red Cross Month the goal is to inspire people across the country to be a hero by giving blood, or becoming a volunteer. You can also #help1family on Giving Day which is on March 28^th by making a financial donation to help provide hope and relief to people who need it most.

            This March, the Red Cross salutes everyday heroes who make a difference in their local communities by donating blood or platelets to support hospital patients, volunteering to help a family devastated by a disaster, taking a first aid or CPR class to help in an emergency situation, and providing comfort to a member of the military, a veteran or their family.

            On average, each year the Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters across the country providing hope and comfort to people in need.  The Red Cross collects nearly 4.9 million units of blood from more than 2.8 million volunteer donors to meet the needs of patients at hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

             The American Red Cross is asking everyone to join us in supporting families impacted by disaster and #help1family on GivingDay- Wednesday, March 28th. Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising campaign supporting the work of the Red Cross, helping people across the country in need of emergency support.

            Here in the Western New York Region, volunteer heroes who deliver and help year-round power your local Red Cross. For example, during Hurricane Harvey, local volunteers have provided immediate financial assistance for more than 573,000 affected households, served more than 4.5 million meals and snacks, provided over 414,800 overnight stays in shelters with partners, and distributed over 1.6 million relief items like diapers, cleaning supplies, coolers and comfort kits.

             This March, become a hero in your local community by joining with the Red Cross to give back to those in need. Provide hope after a disaster and #help1family by making a financial donation at redcross.org/givingday. Donations can help provide urgent relief such as food, blankets and other essentials to people who need it most.

            Red Cross events to look forward to coming up in the months of March and April are the Red Cross Fire and Ice Gala in Rochester. This event will take place on April 14^th. The Early Bird BASH tickets are also on sale now until March31st and this event will take place on June 1^st.

-Angela Lorusso 

Communications Intern