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 During an Oct. 14 live interview on KJFF Radio (1400 AM), a representative from the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provided a national and local overview of the Red Cross, emphasizing its mission to help the public prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.
Through the work of more than 180 sister societies worldwide, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is guided by seven fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
The American Red Cross is not a government organization and relies on the generosity of the American public to provide Red Cross programs and services in communities across this nation. While independent, the Red Cross is chartered by Congress to provide services to the American public in times of disaster and support for members of the Armed Forces.
In the United States, the Red Cross is supported by nearly 900 chapters nationwide, comprising a network of support that is essential to service delivery. This support network has been evident in the organization’s ongoing and unprecedented response to the 2005 hurricane season, which has led to the largest mobilization of resources for a natural disaster in Red Cross history.
Right here in St. Louis, more than 5,700 hurricane evacuees have received direct emergency assistance that includes food, clothing, shelter and mental health counseling, while the Red Cross estimates it will assist approximately 3.7 million hurricane survivors nationwide.
The St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross was founded in 1917 and serves St. Louis City, St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties in Missouri, as well as Monroe and St. Clair counties and part of Madison County in Illinois. The chapter is supported by service centers throughout the metropolitan area that allow the Red Cross to serve a large number of people in the most efficient manner. The Jefferson County Service Center is located at 3880 Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold.
Many people are surprised by the diversity of Red Cross programs and services. Last year, the St. Louis Area Chapter trained more than 85,000 people in lifesaving first aid and CPR; nearly 37,000 individuals received training in learn-to-swim, lifeguard certification and other water safety programs; more than 60,000 people participated in community disaster education workshops to learn how to prepare for the unexpected; more than 6,000 military personnel and their families were assisted through Armed Forces Emergency Services; more than 1,000 families received food, clothing and other disaster relief assistance after losing their homes to fire; 605 area schools, churches and community centers were designated as potential Red Cross shelters to provide safe refuge in the event of a disaster; and 22 traces were initiated right here in the St. Louis area to help family members discover what happened to loved ones lost during the Holocaust.
Such a vast array of programs and services is available to the community thanks to the dedication of thousands of local volunteers. The Red Cross is implementing a nationwide initiative to recruit new volunteers, and there are many opportunities to get involved through the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold. For those interested in serving, volunteer seminars are currently being offered in the St. Louis area.
To volunteer for the Red Cross or to learn more about programs and services available nationally and locally, call the Jefferson County Service Center at 636.464.9150 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.
As part of an ongoing program that began more than a year ago to increase awareness of services to Jefferson County residents, the next Red Cross interview will air live at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 11 on KJFF-1400 AM with an opportunity for call-in questions.
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