The Lee County Red Cross is in the midst of several important projects and provides services throughout the county.
“We’re in the midst of Heroes for Red Cross and would like to share this with the University in a meaningful way,” said Leigh Warren from the Lee County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Heroes for the Red Cross is a fundraiser where individuals pledge to raise a minimum of $1,000 through friends, family or events that they organize.
“All the money raised goes to help support our local programs, which is everything from disaster training and response to extensive training,” said Beth Witten from the Lee County Red Cross.
The chapter has set a goal of raising $50,000.
The Lee County Red Cross will give away a 2008 Heritage Classic Harley Davidson on May 17, which is Armed Forces Day.
The Red Cross provides emergency communication for the military. If a family has an illness or an emergency, they use the Red Cross.
There is a trained case worker available at all times to help with communications.
Whenever there is a local deployment or homecoming, the Red Cross helps.
It costs the chapter $12,000 to provide service to Lee County.
One of their largest services is responding to house fires. It costs about $400 to respond to a house fire for a family of four. That includes providing shelter, food and clothing to the victims of the fire.
“If they have a fundraising idea, we would love to hear from them,” Witten said. “If they want to pledge to be a hero, they certainly can.”
The average year for the Lee County Red Cross lasts from Jan. 1-July 30. On average, they usually help 45 families a year in single family fires.
This year they have already helped 42 families. These are fires in Auburn, Opelika and Lee County, and they also help other surrounding counties.
The Lee County Red Cross helped with the relief efforts after the Prattville tornados.
Several local volunteers have deployed to help during California wild fires, and last year they helped with the ice storms in the mid-west.
In Alabama, Red Cross volunteers complete approximately 95 percent of the projects.
The Lee County Red Cross has four paid staff workers and two part-time workers.
They have weekly blood drives every Wednesday from 12-6.
The Lee County Red Cross provides basic and intermediate classes in disaster training. They run a disaster institute from May 6-9, which is free to the public.
They also have several CPR, first aid and disaster training courses during the summer.
“The reason we have the classes is to prepare people for hurricane and severe weather season,” said Witten. “It’s easier to not be part of the problem, but part of the solution.”
Students can get involved through volunteering their time, giving blood and by making a financial contribution.
There is always an opportunity to volunteer, even when there is not a disaster.
