American Red Cross:
Helping neighbors in need for 130 years
March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is asking everyone in Aroostook County to join them in helping their neighbors in need. County residents can volunteer their time, make a donation, take a class that can help save lives, or give blood.
Contributed photo
BLOOD DRIVES such as this one held at Presque Isle High School are an important part of the American Red Cross. Red Cross Blood Services of Northern New England is the sister agency that collects, processes and distributes blood and blood products. According to people at Blood Services, there is a severe shortage of life-giving blood in Maine right now. Becoming a blood donor is easy: call 1-800-REDCROSS or (207) 941-2900 in Bangor, or go online to www.redcrossblood.org to find out the nearest blood donation location, date and time, and make an appointment. Whole blood donors at least 17 years old can donate whole blood every eight weeks, platelets every seven days, plasma every four weeks, or double red cells (in Bangor) every 16 weeks. All eligibility requirements can also be checked online.
“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, gives blood, takes a first aid class, or helps a military family, they join the Red Cross,” said Joyce Knorr, manager of the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter, the local Red Cross office that serves every county community. “We want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who supports us. Their support helps us provide help and hope to children, adults, and families who need our assistance.”
For nearly 100 years, U.S. presidents have called on people to support the American Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed March as Red Cross Month in 1943. Since then, and including President Obama’s proclamation, every president has designated the month spring arrives as Red Cross Month.
The Red Cross has been helping people for 130 years, and the Pine Tree Chapter has been helping county people for more than 100 years. That help includes responding to disasters, helping members of the military, teaching health and safety skills, and serving as one of the nation’s largest blood suppliers.
The Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter responded and helped victims of nearly 50 local disasters last year, processed dozens of emergency military calls, and trained hundreds of people in first aid, CPR and water safety skills. Its sister agency collected hundreds of units of blood from county residents.
“We work very hard to help people in need,” said Knorr. “Whether out on a disaster response call, helping firefighters in the cold, in a first aid class, or working with a military family, our valuable volunteers touch the lives of thousands of people in northern and eastern Maine every year.”
“All local Red Cross services in The County are a gift from neighbors and friends,” Knorr said. “We hope everyone will take some time to remember that we are here every day to respond when local disasters or emergencies strike, and to help people prepare and plan for them.”
To find out more about Red Cross Month activities in Aroostook County, call the Pine Tree Chapter’s Caribou office at 493-4620 (ext. 108).
