22-03-2025
It's Red Cross Month; how locales recognize local chapter
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1943, and followed by every president after. The Southwest Virginia chapter of the Red Cross is grateful for the cities and counties in the valley that have proclaimed this month as Red Cross Month.
These proclamations from Roanoke city, county, and Salem, all acknowledge the importance of the organization and raise awareness for its mission. The executive director of Southwest Virginia's local chapter says the best way to support the Red Cross is to understand what it does: which is to provide relief and support for those who have experienced disasters and promote preparedness and safety skills.
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'We see some things on the news, but we're there 24/7, not just during the disasters. We're there for four service members. We're there for Red Cross training,' said Jackie Grant, the executive director of the Southwest Virginia chapter of the Red Cross, 'There's so many components of the American Red Cross that help the community, that it's just nice to have some recognition in that month of March. But also about recognizing the volunteers because those are the folks that are really doing the work on the ground.'
The Red Cross's workforce is 90% volunteers, and it's always looking for more. You can sign up to volunteer, give blood, take a CPR class, or donate here.
As we get closer to those summer months, Grant says giving blood now is crucial, especially since the Red Cross supplies forty percent of the blood in the country.
A special promotion the Red Cross is giving this month, is anyone who donates blood will get a free A1C test to measure your average blood sugar.
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