As published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals.

The American Red Cross is a private, not-for-profit organization chartered by Congress to provide national relief during times of crisis. The Red Cross is here to serve the metropolitan area, and the St. Louis Area Chapter and the Jefferson County Service Center depend on community support for the necessary resources to prepare for and respond to emergencies.

During a Jan. 12 live interview on KJFF Radio (1400 AM), Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center and Corie Wirth of the St. Louis Area Chapter emphasized three unique opportunities for the public to personally invest in the Red Cross mission: the Clara Barton Society, corporate partnerships and Operation CARS.

By investing in the Red Cross mission, individuals and corporations make a lasting impact on the lives of others through generous giving. Public support enables services such as disaster relief, Community Disaster Education, health and safety training, Armed Forces Emergency Services and international outreach. Each year, the St. Louis Area Chapter and the Jefferson County Service Center touch the metropolitan area more than 410,000 times through these diverse programs.

During the American Civil War, Clara Barton turned to generous citizens to underwrite her benevolent work, eventually founding the American Red Cross. As a result of her courageous work, Clara Barton has been a symbol of American compassion and resourcefulness in times of crisis for nearly 150 years. The Red Cross turns to people in the community who share Clara Barton's understanding of the need to be prepared and to help those affected by crises.

Through membership in the Clara Barton Society , the public has a unique opportunity to honor the sacred trust that the founder of the American Red Cross placed in each of our hands. Membership is open to all who share a commitment to ensuring the safety of the community by supporting the Red Cross with an annual contribution of $1,000 or more.

A wide range of benefits and recognition are available to Society members, including recognition in chapter publications, complimentary CPR/First Aid classes and invitations to events. Additional benefits can include personalized health and safety training and family disaster planning, as well as invitations to gatherings with senior national Red Cross leadership.

Clara Barton Society members can make one of the best investments available by helping ensure the Red Cross has the capacity to respond immediately, whenever someone is in need. Whether it's a war, a 500-year flood, a devastating tornado, or a medical emergency that requires the intervention of someone trained in lifesaving CPR and first aid, public support makes it possible for hundreds of local volunteers and staff to answer the call of service.

Corporate partners are also essential to enabling the work of the Red Cross. These partners receive benefits that include placement of their featured logo on the Chapter's Web site, recognition certificates and/or plaques, free training workshops, news releases announcing their support, and a listing in the Chapter's Corporate Partner Honor Roll.

Red Cross corporate partners include Anheuser-Busch; A.G. Edwards & Sons; Edward Jones Trust Company; Monsanto Fund; Central State Bus Sales; Pepsi Americas; Mercer Health & Benefits; and Millstone Bangert. In Jefferson County, local businesses, including Servpro and Boemler Chevrolet, have been especially supportive of programs delivered to the community through the Red Cross service center in Arnold.

Finally, the Operation CARS program is an opportunity for the public to donate their vehicle (car, truck, RV, boat, etc.) to the American Red Cross. All proceeds from the auction benefit the St. Louis Area Chapter's local programs and services. The donation process is easy and begins by filling out a car intake form by phone or online. Once the information has been processed and the proper documentation received, the vehicle is towed from its location to the St. Louis Auto Auction. The Red Cross requires a clear title before the car can be accepted and encourages donors to consult their tax advisor regarding charitable deductions.

To learn more about personally investing in the mission of the American Red Cross through the Clara Barton Society, corporate partnerships or Operation CARS, call the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold at 636.464.9150 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

Stay tuned for the next Red Cross interview on KJFF Radio (1400 AM) airing at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 9.