Red Cross Asks America To Help Raise $30 Million In 30 Days

Main Category: Aid / Disasters
Article Date: 02 Dec 2008 - 8:00 PST

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The American Red Cross is asking people across the nation to help disaster victims by raising $30 million in 30 days. This holiday season push will put the final touch on the $100 million goal for the Red Cross Campaign for Disaster Relief. Already, the campaign has raised nearly $70 million since its launch in September, and the Red Cross hopes to meet its target before the year ends.

"Even in these tough economic times, Americans have given to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and helped us make incredible progress toward our goal. When the next disaster hits, they can rest assured that their generosity will help feed, shelter and give support to someone in need-in their own town, in the next state or even thousands of miles away," said Jeffrey Towers, chief development officer at the Red Cross.

America has faced a disaster-filled year: a record-breaking number of tornadoes; the worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years; a very active hurricane season; wildfires in the West; and the many "silent" disasters that never make national news, such as the tens of thousands of house fires that occur every year. Responding to these emergencies depleted the Disaster Relief Fund, which allows the Red Cross to provide food, shelter, counseling and other critical services to disaster victims across the country.

The average person can help right now. A $5 text message provides a hot meal for a disaster victim. A $25 gift buys blankets for a family of five. A $75 donation pays for a disaster victim to visit the doctor. Disasters won't take a break for the holidays. Every day Red Cross volunteers across the nation respond to an average of 200 disasters. There are several ways people can help others during this season of giving:

-- Donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund:

- Go to http://www.redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) (for Spanish-speakers, 1-800-257-7575).
- Send contributions for the Disaster Relief Fund to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
- Use your cell phone to donate $5 to the Disaster Relief Fund by text messaging the keyword "GIVE" (4483) to "2HELP" (24357).

-- Look for Red Cross volunteers in your community during the National Day of Giving on Saturday, December 13, 2008. Red Cross volunteers will be in locations across the nation collecting money for the Campaign for Disaster Relief.

-- Shop the Red Cross online store at http://www.redcrossstore.org.

-- Volunteer. Contact your local Red Cross chapter for opportunities.

-- Save lives by giving blood. Find a local blood drive by visiting http://www.givelife.org or calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543).

About the American Red Cross

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org.

American Red Cross