On March 15, an exhibition showcasing the history of The American Red Cross will open at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. The exhibition, entitled ‘Our National Treasure: The American Red Cross’ will tour nationally for five years. This extraordinary exhibit will provide a glimpse into 128 years of history, as seen through the work of The American Red Cross.

The exhibition is divided into four areas that feature the major services provided by The American Red Cross. These areas are: Disaster Services, Blood and Biomedical Services, Service to the Armed Forces and Veterans, and, Health and Safety.

Items that will be featured include: a circa 1917 canteen wagon along with a coffee and doughnuts canteen display, replicating the snack stations The American Red Cross traditionally provides along with blood drives and disaster relief; posters painted by Norman Rockwell, and other artists; items from the founder of The American Red Cross, Clara Barton, including an invitation to the first meeting of The American Red Cross on May 19, 1881, and a medal she received during the Franco-Prussian War.

It is very likely that at some point during the next five years the exhibition will come to a town near you. As a result, anyone who is interested in attending the exhibition should keep an eye out for announcements from their local Chapter of The American Red Cross. Most Chapters have websites that are regularly updated.

A lot has changed in the last 128 years, however the dedication and services provided by volunteers of The American Red Cross has remained constant. Without the generous support from members of the public, the services provided today wouldn’t be available. As such, donations are extremely important. These donations come in many forms, from common ones such as money, clothing, and blood, through to the less obvious, such as cars and other vehicles. There is no doubt that when Clara Barton formed The American Red Cross she could never have envisioned donations of cars, and yet today they are slowly becoming a more regular addition to the above list of items. Hopefully, they will continue to do so.

For Non-Government Organizations, such as The American Red Cross, donations from ordinary members of the public are vital. Without them, these charities could not continue to provide the various programs and services that aid so many people in our communities. The help provided comes in many forms including shelter, clothing, blood, and emergency training. This assistance is particularly important following major disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. Members of the public can donate in many ways. One way is to donate car or other vehicle. To do this, simply ring The American Red Cross and within 24-48 hours your vehicle will be collected.

This month, the Mountain Area Chapter of The American Red Cross, situated in Asheville, North Carolina, is holding a special fundraising event. The “Under The Silver Moon Gala” will be held on the 21st of March at Deerpark on the Biltmore Estate. Tickets are $125 per person and include dinner, entertainment, and the opportunity to participate in both silent and live auctions. The auctions feature artwork by well-known American artists, fabulous trips, and dining delights. For more information, visit the Mountain Area Chapter webpage.

Saturday the 28th of March is ‘CPR Saturday’ throughout the Mountain Area Chapter. This is the one day of the year on which the Chapter waives the usual $35 fee for CPR training. Last year, over 300 individuals took advantage of this opportunity and received certified training. Classes teach CPR training for both adults and infants, and are held in both English and Spanish. The Chapter webpage provides a list of training locations in Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Haywood, Transylvania, and Polk. People who are interested in receiving this training should note that reservations are required.

The Mountain Area Chapter is just one of many Chapters of The American Red Cross situated throughout the United States. All of them regularly hold events such as those listed above. To find out what is going on where you live simply follow the links on The American Red Cross website.

Heroes come in many forms. From mothers and fathers, to police, and firefighters, there are many amazing people in our communities who sometimes don’t receive the recognition they deserve. On April 21, the Twin Cities Chapter of The American Red Cross is holding a Heroes Breakfast from 7:30-9:00am at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis. The Heroes Breakfast is a chance to say thankyou to all the heroes who have done so much in our community. The breakfast costs only $50, $25 of which is tax-deductible.

“Ready Awards” will be presented to heroes in 8 categories. The categories recognize that heroes come from all walks of life, and are heroes for many different reasons. For example, the “Youth Good Samaritan Ready” award will be presented to a young man or woman, under the age of 21, who displayed courage and caring upon encountering an unusual, significant or unexpected incident. For more information on the Heroes Breakfast visit the Chapter homepage and book your ticket before April 10.

Events like this one are important because they remind us of the hard work that volunteers such as those of The American Red Cross do all year round. Donations can provide much needed help and can be made in a variety of forms. These include donations of blood, money, planned giving, and donations of used cars and other vehicles. Vehicles are re-sold or stripped of parts and the profits go towards the various programs run by The American Red Cross. Vehicles can be donated by contacting The American Red Cross either by phone or online.

If the Heroes Breakfast inspires you to volunteer and you live in the Twin Cities area you are welcome to join The American Red Cross volunteer team of 1400 individuals. By becoming a volunteer you will meet a great bunch of people, learn many valuable skills, and enjoy the feeling that you are making a positive change in your community. Of course you do not have to live in the Twin Cities area in order to be a volunteer. Volunteers, like heroes, can be found all over our country.

March is finally here and hopefully the new season will bring better weather than we have been suffering through lately. Throughout the year one thing remains constant: the hard work of the volunteers of The American Red Cross. We do not need to be reminded that the amazing work done by this organization would not be possible without donations from members of the public.

The members of the Southeastern Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross need no reminder that March is here. They are celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a Pre St. Patrick’s Day Party on the 15th of March at Gus O’Connor’s in downtown Rochester. The party will feature a traditional Irish dinner, live music, and drink specials. The entire $15 cost for the evening will be donated to the Southeastern Michigan chapter to assist in their programs. Further details are available from the chapter homepage.

Some people may wonder how their donation helps in a practical sense. Here are some facts that will help answer this question. $25 provides a pair of shoes for a child, or ten hygiene kits. $50 provides groceries for a family of two for a week. $100 provides jackets for two adults.

At this time of economic difficulty our wallets are lighter than usual but this does not mean that we cannot contribute to The American Red Cross. For example, many people do not know that it is possible to donate a car or other vehicle. The car will be picked up within 24-48 hours of the donation being made. Profits from the donation help fund the various programs run by The American Red Cross.

Meanwhile we hope that you will join us in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Rochester.