Celebrating Red Cross Month

Lincoln and Logan County Make Nationwide Impact

To the editor:

Since 1943, March has been celebrated as Red Cross Month. President Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed it as a time for U.S. citizens to rededicate themselves to the "splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross." Sixty-five years later, the American Red Cross continues to provide a wide array of services to people in every community throughout the nation.

In addition to being the nation's single largest blood collection organization, the Red Cross offers health and safety training, serves as a vital emergency communication link between military personnel and their families at home, teaches disaster preparedness, and provides relief to victims of disasters of all types and sizes.

During Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross thanks the volunteers who make these lifesaving services possible. None of this could happen without generous donations from individuals in the Lincoln community.

The American Red Cross Blood Services Heart of America Region would particularly like to thank everyone who gives blood and helps patients in about 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. Your commitment as a member of the Red Cross is tremendously valued.

In 2007, the Red Cross collected 744 pints of blood in Logan County. The Lincoln community sponsored 43 Red Cross blood drives last year.

During March, bad weather and illness can still keep many from being able to donate blood. Yet the need for blood continues. The American Red Cross must collect enough blood every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients, patients having surgery and so many others.

The Red Cross is dedicated to preparing and helping people in need, every day, in communities across the nation. We know you are too and appreciate your continued support.

If you are at least 17 years old or 16 years old with signed parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in good health, please consider helping save someone's life by giving blood. For more information, call the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE LIFE, or visit http://givebloodgivelife.org/. This year, make a difference and give blood.

Shelly Heiden, CEO
Mid-America Division, Heart of America Blood Services Region

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters, taught lifesaving skills to millions and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work.

[Posted March 07, 2008]