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American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund is Empty
Charity makes public plea for urgent donations at
1-800 HELP NOW or www.redcross.org
WASHINGTON, Monday, September 15, 2003 — As
Hurricane Isabel continues its path towards the United States,
threatening families along the East Coast with potentially
damaging winds and torrential rain, the American Red Cross has
announced that, due to a decrease in financial support and an
increase in “silent” disasters, its Disaster Relief Fund is
empty.
The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide
immediate emergency assistance to the victims of everything
from multi-unit apartment fires to severe storms to damaging
floodwaters. Disasters strike communities across the nation
about 186 times daily – the majority are called “silent”
disasters, never making the news. After a disaster strikes,
the Red Cross relies on the fund to mobilize volunteers and
resources to help communities throughout the United States
recover.
Due to the state of the Disaster Relief Fund, Red Cross
assistance to disaster victims for the foreseeable future will
be focused on meeting immediate basic human needs, such as
food, clothing, shelter, essential medication and mental
health counseling.
“Since its inception in 1881, the American Red Cross has
been guided by the vision of humanitarianism and fueled by
financial donations from citizens and businesses,” said
President and CEO, Marsha J. Evans. “While the vision
continues, the fuel has run out.” Americans can make a
donation to the Red Cross today by calling 1-800 HELP NOW or
visiting http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/”http://www.redcross.org”.
According to a recent poll conducted by the Red Cross,
about 50 percent of Americans are not prepared for natural or
man-made disasters and what’s more, 58 percent have not taken
the steps to make a disaster supply kit. As Hurricane Isabel
threatens to be one of the strongest hurricanes to hit land in
many years, the results could be devastating: millions of
dollars of damage, lives lost, families broken.
Simply put, the current state of the economy makes it
difficult for the public to support disaster victims to the
extent they have in years past. From July 1, 2002, to June 30,
2003, the organization spent $114.3 million while taking in
only $39.5 million. The supply is just not keeping up with the
demand, which could be the result of several factors,
including a downturn in the economy.
Even as we concentrate our efforts on shoring up our
Disaster Relief Fund, we must also include a plea for
increased blood donations. Our national blood inventory is
already dangerously low and with the probability of an
interruption in blood collections due to the approaching
hurricane, it becomes even more critical that Americans make
an appointment to donate life-saving blood by calling
1-800-GIVE LIFE today.
Although many Americans contributed generously to the Red
Cross two years ago in the days following September 11, 2001,
they may feel the organization does not need further funding.
But the money donated after the attacks is exclusively
designated for the victims of September 11 and their families.
While the Disaster Relief Fund is set up to help the victims
of disasters, the Liberty Fund is set up to help only the
victims of 9-11 and their families. The Red Cross cannot
borrow from the Liberty Fund to help the victims of Hurricane
Isabel or any other disaster or emergency.
The future ability of the Red Cross to perform our full
humanitarian mission of support to those in need is threatened
and can only be sustained by generous monetary contributions
and blood donations of concerned Americans.
All 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 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 those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or
1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Also, contributions to the Disaster
Relief Fund may be sent to the American Red Cross Milford Chapter,
PO Box 390, Milford, CT 06460 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243,
Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online
credit card donations by visiting http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/”http://www.redcross.org”.
Also, donations are being collected at Coinstar machines at
local grocery stores across America. To find the nearest
Coinstar machine, visit http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/”http://www.findcoinstar.com”.
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from Hurricane Isabel
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