Red Cross Suspends Collections of Large Amounts of Goods for Troops; Offers Other Suggestions on How to Help
News Release: April 11, 2003
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The Department of Defense (DoD) has advised the American Red Cross of heightening security concerns and transportation restrictions, and has further cautioned the Red Cross against collecting large volumes of goods for troops. In addition, the DoD has suspended its own “Any Service Member” and “Operation Dear Abby” services due to security and logistical concerns.
American Red Cross chapters across the country have received an overwhelming response from the public and those wishing to support U.S. service men and women by donating items. Currently, national Red Cross has more than enough goods in the distribution pipeline to last an estimated four months.
The Red Cross offers these alternative suggestions on how people can show their appreciation:
Consider making a financial donation to help offset the costs of inspecting, packing and mailing the items already donated to national Red Cross for the troops, and to help with the increase in Armed Forces Emergency Services communication requests from families of service personnel. With nearly 300,000 forces in the region and climbing, the volume of Red Cross emergency communications has jumped 20 percent, greatly adding to Red Cross costs. The best way to help is to donate online at www.redcross.org where you can designate where and how you want your donation to help.
Give blood during the weeks ahead. In the Carbon County area, you can donate blood to the Red Cross by calling (610) 377-2100 or visit www.redcrosslv.org for donation times and locations. In Lehigh and Northampton counties, you can call the Miller Memorial Blood Center at (610) 691-5850 to make an appointment to give blood.
Become a volunteer. Many military service members who normally perform volunteer work are now deployed. Volunteers are needed to visit Veterans Administration hospitals and nursing homes, coach children's sports teams, feed the homeless or volunteer for other community outreach programs.
Check out the Department of Defense Web site for updated referral information on sources for greeting cards, virtual thank you messages and other items: http://www.defenselink.mil/news.
Currently, there are 31 American Red Cross workers on the ground in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain supporting Operation Iraq Freedom by delivering emergency messages to the armed forces from their families back home.
For more information, call your local Red Cross at (610) 865-4400.
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 Lehigh Valley residents.
