1)                DISASTER:    

Red Cross is called upon to help victims and survivors of disasters.  Most of the time, people think of disasters as the big events, but over 95% of what our volunteers respond to is single family fires.

* Cases from the flooding are part of a national response; those in the chapter’s jurisdiction are estimated as part of this total.

2)                ASSISTANCE TO MILITARY FAMILIES:    

Red Cross volunteer s and staff assist hundreds of local families that have a member in the active duty military, be they from a guard unit, the local Marine Reserve unit, or active duty in any of the branches of service anywhere in the world

3)                LIFESAVING TRAINING:        

Red Cross trained personnel train over 10,000 people in St. Joe County each year, in lifesaving techniques like CPR, First Aid, and Life Guarding

4)                INTERNATIONAL:

Red Cross is a part of an International network of services.  Like all Red Cross Chapters, we help with tracing of international refugees from conflicts.  The Chapter will continue its Refugee Resettlement Program and begin to assist new arrivals in 2010.  143 families have received services since 2007.

5)                BLOOD:        

Red Cross is the nation’s largest blood supplier, and in St. Joseph County works collaboratively with the medical foundation to meet local needs.  Red Cross mobile collection trucks are conducting blood drives in outlying parts of the county and in surrounding counties, including Starke and Pulaski.

The American Red Cross is supported by:

Ø    donations from the public;

Ø    the United Way of St. Joseph County , for a portion of our disaster and military work;

Ø    grants for projects from foundations and businesses;

Ø    class registration fees;

Ø    bequests, legacies and planned giving.