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March has officially been declared Red Cross Month by order of a Presidential Proclamation signed by President Barack Obama on Friday, marking the 66th time the month of March has been celebrated in honor of the organization. The proclamation reads, in part:
“The Red Cross has continued to serve those suffering from large- and small-scale disasters. The organization is best known for its work helping communities deal with major disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. These large-scale disasters represent a major part of the work of the American Red Cross. Just as important are the tens of thousands of small-scale disasters that occur every day in communities nationwide, and the volunteers who respond to them. These efforts include supporting our military and their families, collecting and distributing blood, helping the needy, delivering health and safety education, and providing aid abroad.”
March has been known as Red Cross Month across the country since 1943, when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued the declaration in support of Red Cross efforts to raise funds for World War II services.
Locally
The Greater Carolinas Chapter, which serves Iredell and Mecklenburg counties, has a number of activities planned for March, including a region-wide Safe Family Day on Saturday, March 14, and Club Red’s “Sirens and Shields” auction featuring our first responders on Saturday, March 28. Also, volunteers and staff will coordinate nearly 40 blood drives this month in Iredell and Mecklenburg counties.
March also marks the launch of our “Hometown Heroes” campaign, which recognizes the everyday heroes who serve our community through their time and treasure.
For more on these and other events in March, click here.
Nationally
In honor of Red Cross Month, the Red Cross will launch the first-ever national Change a Life contest. The contest will run from March 2-16. The public is invited to visit http://www.RedCross.org and tell us how a Red Cross experience changed their life or someone else’s life.
The grand prize winner will win a two-night trip for two to Washington D.C. to join Keith Urban and his band on August 20th as they play their Escape Together World Tour concert. The package includes backstage passes and a tour of the National American Red Cross Disaster Operations Center. The second place winner will receive a 52” Philips HD LCD television, DVD player and a library of Red Cross preparedness and safety DVDs.

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All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. To make a donation or find out more about the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the American Red Cross, call (704) 378.4620 or visit http://www.redcrosshelps.org.