Freeholders Declare Red Cross Month And Recognize Volunteers

The Morris County Freeholders have proclaimed March 2016 as American Red Cross Month in Morris County, asking residents to recognize and thank “Everyday Heroes’’ – the selfless Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to help the community.

“The Red Cross responds to disasters big and small; and, in fact, every eight minutes the organization responds to a community disaster by providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo.

The proclamation was issued at the March 9 freeholder meeting in Morristown to Christy Hodde, executive director of the New Jersey Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross.

“Morris County is full of every day heroes,” said Hodde. “They are our compassionate Red Cross volunteers, selfless blood donors and generous supporters who help their neighbors when they need it most.”

The New Jersey Crossroads Chapter serves a population of 1.1 million people in Morris, Union and Warren Counties, and Millburn and Short Hills in Essex County. Some 2015 statistics for the Red Cross in NJ included
responding to 889 local disasters, helping 1,820 families displaced by fires, collecting 89,000 units of blood through blood drives and donation centers, training 117,000 people with life-saving skills, such as CPR, providing assistance to 4,000 military families.

This was made possible by the generous contribution of time by 5,800 volunteers, including many in Morris County.

Hodde explained that Red Cross volunteers help families find shelter after a home fire, give blood to help trauma victims and cancer patients, deliver comfort items to military members in the hospital, use lifesaving skills to save someone from a heart attack, drowning, or choking; and enable children to be vaccinated from measles and rubella, among many of their contributions.

“Whereas, the American Red Cross depends on local heroes to deliver help and hope during a disaster, we applaud our heroes here in Morris County who give of themselves to assist their neighbors,’’ stated the freeholders’ resolution.

For more information on the American Red Cross visit the Crossroads Chapter at: https://www.redcross.org/local/nj/locations/summit.