Red Cross Month kicks off to honor community heroes

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is kicking off its annual

celebration in March to honor local community heroes who help ensure their neighbors never face crises alone.

Red Cross Month is a national tradition that began in March 1943 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation — and each U.S. president has followed ever since.

“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to honor the people in our community who step up to support one another when help can’t wait during emergencies,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. “This relief and hope wouldn’t be possible without these local

Month Red Cross

heroes. Please consider joining in their commitment by donating, volunteering, giving blood or platelets, or taking a lifesaving skills course.”

Join the Red Cross Month celebration by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation, give blood or platelets, become a volunteer or take a lifesaving skills course. Those who donate at redcross.org/ givingday on March 27 will be part of the 10th annualRed Cross Giving Day, which aims to rally 30,000 supporters nationwide to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

Help when strike can’t wait emergencies

Volunteers comprise 90% of the national Red Cross workforce to power its lifesaving mission, along with generous blood, platelet and financial donors; people trained in skills like first aid and CPR; and other supporters. The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is proud to have over 3,300 volunteers on our team.

In 2023, the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania:

•Responded to more than 1,500 disasters and assisted over 6,400 people

•Installed more than 9,000 free smoke alarms in local homes

•Hosted more than 5,000 local blood drives and collected over 112,000 units of blood

•Provided nearly 7,000 services to support veterans, military members and their families

•Trained more than 124,000 people in Red Cross courses

Give March blood this

As we approach the final weeks of winter, the public is urged to book a time to donate blood or platelets now as we continue to strengthen the blood supply heading into spring. Much like pets provide comfort and support, so does the Red Cross in local communities. As a thankyou for providing comfort during Red Cross Month, all come to give blood or platelets March 1-24 will get a $10 egift card to a pet supply merchant of choice, plus automatically be entered for a chance to win a $3,000 gift card. There will be five winners. See rcblood.org/ Pets for details.