Freeholders Declare March as ‘American Red Cross Month’

To help raise awareness about the good work by the American Red Cross and the organization’s need for continued support, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders issued a proclamation recognizing March as American Red Cross Month.

The proclamation was presented during the March 8 freeholder meeting to Dr. Steven Crawford, chairman of the Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Red Cross volunteers Ellen Korpar and Mario Rivera.

“Your team is out there helping people whenever there is a disaster, tragedy or major storm, and we thank you for your work,” Freeholder Director John P. Curley said. “Volunteerism is the fabric of this county and this great country, and nowhere is that more apparent than with the American Red Cross.”

“We appreciate the recognition and support of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, as well as the support we get from our volunteers,” Crawford said. “It’s all about the volunteers.”

“We also appreciate the support we get from the towns, because it is the towns that call us out when we are needed,” Korpar added. “We work very closely with the first responders, fire police and EMTs. If it wasn’t for them we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”

The American Red Cross was created in 1881 by Clara Barton and officially chartered by Congress in 1900 to provide national and international relief during disasters, and to give relief to the military and serve as a means of communication between members of the Armed Forces and their families.

From the beginning, people in the United Statess have volunteered and donated funds to support the Red Cross in its mission to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the first Red Cross Month in support of Red Cross fundraising efforts to respond to needs brought on by World War II. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month.

Today, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. Through a worldwide network, the American Red Cross provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world.