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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn., Friday, March 7, 2014 — March is Red Cross Month and the American Red Cross would like to recognize the nation’s Everyday Heroes who reach out to help their neighbors when they are in need.
“Our heroes are our volunteers, our blood donors, people who take our classes or those who make a financial contribution to help us help others here in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area,” said Chapter Executive, Julie Campos. “During Red Cross Month we thank them and encourage everyone to discover their inner hero by giving time to help people in our community.”
For more than 70 years, all of our country’s presidents, including President Barack Obama, have designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world.
The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters of all sizes big and small in this country every year. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world; collects and distributes about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains millions of people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills.
The frigid weather along with the recent ice and snow has caused a drop in blood donations with donors not able to attend blood donation events. Regina Raccuglia-Conway, Communications Manager with the Red Cross Blood Services talked about the decrease in blood donations.
“It is a great time to come out and roll up a sleeve because in this area alone we had to cancel several blood drives and lost more than a hundred units. We are certainly trying to recover that. That was a major hit to us because 100 units means that’s 300 lives. We consider one donation can save up to three lives,” said Raccuglia-Conway.
Here in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area, the Two Rivers Chapter responded to 133 local emergencies, assisted 56 military families and trained 938 people in lifesaving skills. And, people from this area donated 7,365 units of blood.
“Red Cross Month is also a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross. It’s easy,” Campos said. “They can become a Red Cross volunteer, work on a preparedness plan for their household, give blood, or take a Red Cross class.”
The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping people in need.
The Two-Rivers Chapter has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month, including on March 18, 2014 we will be having an event at Texas Roadhouse located on Wilma Rudolph in Clarksville. Between the hours of 4:00-10:00 pm, 10% of your meal cost will go to the American Red Cross Two-Rivers Chapter.