American Red Cross: Leavenworth County Chapter

Sudden cardiac arrest causes 250,000 deaths each year. As many as 50,000 of those lives might be saved with the use of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)

More children die each year from drowning than from firearms. (Source: National Safety Council)

According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 81 workplace fatalities in Kansas in 1999. Clearly, injuries and even deaths happen in the workplace, but the American Red Cross Workplace Safety Training is one step businesses can take to protect their employees.

Contact the American Red Cross to learn more about how its health and safety training programs can prevent injuries and save lives.

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-RED-CROSS 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, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

The Leavenworth County Chapter has been busy. In May, 3 of our volunteers went out on assignment. One volunteer went to Cedar Rapids, Ia. and two went to Chapman, Ks. to help with the tornado victims. While they were busy helping out else where, the Chapter was busy taking care of 4 families locally, whom where flooded out of their homes. We provided these families with shelter and food allowance and once the water receded we gave them clean up kits, to help with the daunting task of cleaning up after Mother nature. Though the disaster locally was deemed small, we were there for those families.

We are able to be there, because of the generous donations and support of the Leavenworth County community. We thank you for this support.

American Red Cross Launches Campaign for Disaster Relief

Leavenworth, KS, October 14, 2008 – As a result of an active year of disasters – a record number of tornadoes, the worst flooding in the Midwest in 15 years, an early wildfire season and an active hurricane season that is not yet over – the American Red Cross launched the Campaign for Disaster Relief to raise an initial $100 million to fill its depleted Disaster Relief Fund.

The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Leavenworth County Chapter to provide emergency assistance to help victims of disasters meet their immediate needs for food, shelter, counseling and other critical services. The Red Cross responds to 70,000 disasters each year – the majority of them “silent” disasters never making the news. After tragedy strikes, the Red Cross relies on this fund to mobilize volunteers and resources to help communities throughout the United States.

“The Red Cross is always there when disaster strikes, but this year has been an active disaster year and the cost of providing relief has rapidly outpaced contributions,” said Gail McGovern, American Red Cross President and CEO. “We sheltered more people during the first nights of Hurricane Gustav than the first days of Katrina. While the media has packed up and moved on, we are still there helping a large number of people.”

“The American people have always responded generously to support their neighbors during their time of need, and I urge all Americans to join together and make a contribution to the Disaster Relief Fund today. No matter how small, every donation can change a life” said Diane Fodness, Executive Director of the Leavenworth County Chapter.

The Red Cross has taken every step to make its operations as cost-effective as possible including consolidating operations, relying heavily on local volunteers and partners and receiving strong logistical and commodity support from FEMA and other agencies.

Since January 2008, Red Cross volunteers have responded to thousands of house fires and more than 60 large-scale disasters – including hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires – which have steadily depleted the Disaster Relief Fund. Red Cross expenses for Hurricane Gustav alone are estimated to be as much as $70 million dollars and the organization has only raised a fraction of what is needed to support affected families. The cost of the Hurricane Ike relief effort could easily climb higher than that.

The Red Cross will continue helping individuals and families battered by the 2008 storms and hurricanes: Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike.

In the interim, the Red Cross is borrowing money to cover the costs of the hurricanes of 2008. While the organization is initially striving to raise $100 million to help those in need, the Red Cross is in the midst of both hurricane and wildfire season and does not know what the future will bring.

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. You can log-on to www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) to make a donation. You can also use your cell phone to donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by text messaging the keyword “GIVE” to “2HELP” (24357). You can send multiple donations depending on your carrier. Contributions will appear on monthly bills or be debited from a prepaid account balance. All applicable text rates apply.

This Page Last Updated: October 15, 2008