By now we’ve all heard the news that a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit the small, poor, island country of Haiti. For many of us, the devastation is incomprehensible, and as with so many large-scale natural disasters, we want to do something to help. In this age of information going viral and spreading through Facebook, twitter, and other social networking sites, the info about how to help was widespread public knowledge in less than 18 hours. Always on the lookout for a scam and interested in protecting my friends, I called the Raleigh office of the American Red Cross to confirm what I was seeing online. It is true that if you text “HAITI” to 90999, you can donate $10 to the relief fund and have that charge show up on your next phone bill. Donating really doesn’t get much easier than that.
While on the phone I asked Angela, the American Red Cross representative with whom I spoke, what our local chapter’s biggest need is. Her answer really came as no surprise, but definitely bears repeating: monetary donations. While there is always a need for blood donations and volunteers, with the economy the way it is, monetary donations are way down. On top of that relief efforts are way up, both nationally and locally. For example, Angela told me that last week $9000 was spent in the triangle for local disaster relief for families that have lost their homes. “That is more than twice what is normal for a week,” she said.
We often hear or read or see on the news how the American Red Cross will send relief money and workers to help during a large natural disaster such as the earthquake in Haiti. We occasionally note in the news how blood supplies are down and more donations are needed. As with most things, the day-to-day activities of the Red Cross are taken for granted until we, or someone we know, needs their help. The amazing thing is that the Red Cross is there before we even have the chance to ask for their help.
A good friend of mine, Terri Overby, and her family received that help back in 1988. I asked her to share her story, and this is what she wrote:
The F4 tornado that went through Raleigh on 11/28/88 struck my house at 1:13am. I was 14. It is something I will never forget. My family and the majority of my neighbors were very lucky to be alive. The damage was so bad that the National Guard and emergency services were the only ones who could get in for hours. The next to arrive was The Red Cross. They arrived before friends and family members could even get there. Their main purpose was to comfort and shelter anyone who needed it. They immediately had places for everyone to go and transportation to get there via the National Guard and volunteers. They were also there with those basics and comforts that you take for granted until they are gone. I never thought a cup of hot chocolate would be so extravagant! After the National Guard left and the insurance adjusters, civic groups, news crews and FEMA started to roll in, the Red Cross was still there. The Red Cross stayed for days if not weeks until the last person was taken care of. I will never forget their help.
After my life got “back to normal” I set up a monthly donation of $20 and have kept up with it ever since. No matter how tight times are financially, I make sure that I make that donation. I feel like it is only right since they helped me, my family, and neighbors without question or hesitation. I want them to be able to do that for others.
During national disasters like the one in Haiti right now, I try to give more or at least donate my time.
What they do is very simple, but it makes a huge difference.
It’s very easy to think about supporting the Red Cross during a time when the need for their help is making national and international headlines. It is much more difficult to remember on a daily basis. Terri is doing a great thing to help them and she knows that her money is being very well used. I texted “HAITI” to 90999 today. It took about a minute to make a $10 donation. My friend Eddie donated 8 gallons of blood when he lived here in Raleigh and has donated another gallon since he moved. That is a lot of blood (in my mind) and time taken to do it, but he does it regularly. None of us are looking for a thank you or a pat on the back, we just want to be able to help. That is the same philosophy exhibited by the American Red Cross. That is why they are the topic of my blog this week.
For more information on the American Red Cross, visit go to their websites:
Central North Carolina: http://centralnorthcarolina.redcross.org/
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment