American Red Cross Seeks Gift Certificates to Help Families This Holiday Season

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News Release: December 10, 2001
Contact: Janice Osborne, manager-Media & Community Affairs (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley is seeking gift certificates for families in need this holiday season.

"Each year Red Cross reaches out to families who have special needs during the holiday season," Cordelia Miller, director of emergency services, said. "Gift certificates allow families to purchase things they need in conjunction with other items they may receive through other agencies.

"With certificates, individuals have the freedom to choose what they want to buy. The ability to make one's own choices is very healing. It also provides individuals some stability and puts some control back in their lives."

Certificates from stores that carry both food and material items are most useful. Examples of stores include Giant Food Stores, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Redner's Markets, Shop Rite, and Weis Markets.

Gift certificates in any amount may be mailed to or dropped off at the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, Pa., 18017. Hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Deadline for donating certificates is noon, Friday, Dec. 21.

Last year, employees of the Allentown Branch of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association donated more than $700 in gift certificates.

For more information, call Miller at 610-865-4400, ext. 226.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 15,500 Lehigh Valley residents.

For more information about the local Red Cross, visit our Web site at www.redcrosslv.org.