National Disaster Relief Fund is Empty; Plea Made for Donations
News Release: September 18, 2003
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The American Red Cross announced this week that, due to an increase in disasters and a decrease in financial support, its Disaster Relief Fund is empty.
For the moment, the national Red Cross is using general operating funds to cover immediate disaster costs and is prepared to respond to Hurricane Isabel should it follow its expected course and make landfall.
The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide immediate emergency assistance such as food, clothing, shelter, mental health counseling and essential medications 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, those Red Cross calls less visible events that don’t generate big donations.
Nationally, the Red Cross estimates that it will need to raise a minimum of $56 million and possibly as much as $120 million in order to respond to disasters large and small that are occurring simultaneously.
“From July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003, the National Red Cross 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,” said American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley Executive Director John R. Hughes. “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 of concerned Americans.”
All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Residents can make a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, by calling 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Also, contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the local American Red Cross at 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, Pa. 18017 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.redcross.org or www.redcrosslv.org. Also, donations are being collected at Coinstar machines at local grocery stores across America. To find the nearest Coinstar machine, visit www.findcoinstar.com.
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 20,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about your local Red Cross or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.
