Volunteer Answers Call for Help
in North Dakota
News Release: June 6, 2011
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 830-9771


Lisa Taylor of Allentown flew to Bismarck, N.D. on June 4 to help with relief efforts as flooding threatened communities in the Missouri River Basin.

Taylor, a disaster mental health volunteer, will supervise the mental health services function that provides crises intervention, mental health screening and assessment, emotional care and support. She is an 18-year volunteer with the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Taylor is the fifth Red Cross disaster worker from the area to help in national relief efforts this spring. Earlier, Marylee Zart of Orefield and Patti Daugherty of Nazareth deployed to Mississippi; Irv Burmil of Easton and Janice Osborne of Allentown (South Whitehall Township) deployed to Alabama.

Since March 31, the Red Cross has launched 41 large disaster relief operations across 28 states, opening more than 260 shelters and providing 28,000 overnight stays. More than 11,000 Red Cross workers have served more than 2.6 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 1.2 million comfort and clean-up items. Health and mental health services workers have provided more than 60,000 consultations, consoling people who have lost everything, and helping replace lost medications and eyeglasses.

Thousands of people's lives have been affected by these disasters. Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS; you can also text the word "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross helped more than 76,500 people through preparedness and training, military personnel support, senior lifesaving programs and services, emergency relief and information and referral. The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.