Freeholders Declare March 2017 as Red Cross Month in Morris County

Published on March 09, 2017

BOARD RECOGNIZES INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS

The Morris County Freeholders have proclaimed March 2017 as American Red Cross Month in Morris County, asking county residents to recognize and thank the selfless Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to help the community.

(l/r) Freeholders John Cesaro, Kathy DeFillippo, Doug Cabana, the Red Cross' Christy Hodde and Hart Koven, and Freeholders Christine Myers, Tom Mastrangelo, Deborah Smith and Hank Lyon(JPG, 106KB) (l/r) Freeholders John Cesaro, Kathy DeFillippo, Doug Cabana, the Red Cross' Christy Hodde and Hart Coven, and Freeholders Christine Myers, Tom Mastrangelo, Deborah Smith and Hank Lyon

The Red Cross is a vital organization in our community, responding to disasters big and small by providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected by tragedies,'' said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.

We strongly commended them for their efforts to alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.''

The proclamation was issued at Wednesday's (March 8) freeholder meeting in Morristown to Christy Hodde, Executive Director of the New Jersey Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Hart Coven of Morris Township, who is a disaster response volunteer and board member for the NJ Crossroads Chapter.

During March, which is Red Cross Month, we recognize and honor our everyday heroes, who volunteer to help those in need in their communities,'' said Hodde. I urge Morris County residents to become a community hero by giving blood, volunteering, learn a lifesaving skill, or create a family preparedness plan.

(l/r) Freeholder Cabana, Christy Hodde, and Hart Koven(JPG, 386KB) (l/r) Freeholder Cabana, Christy Hodde, and Hart Coven

The New Jersey Crossroads chapter of the American Red Cross serves a population of 1.1 million people in Morris, Union and Warren Counties, and the towns of Millburn and Short Hills in Essex County.

In 2016, the New Jersey Region did the following:

  • Responded to 770 local disasters, helping 1,800 families displaced by home fires.
  • Collected more than 89,000 units of blood through blood drives and our donation centers.
  • Trained 116,000 individuals with life-saving skills in preparedness, CPR, AED use, first aid and aquatics.
  • Provided 3,600 military family case services with emergency messages, helping families find assistance and/or get counseling and referrals.

These Red Cross services were made possible by the generous contribution of time from 5,305 volunteers across the state, including Morris County, who help make a difference in their communities!

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.

Red Cross logo(PNG, 3KB)For more information on the American Red Cross visit the Crossroads Chapter at: http://www.redcross.org/local/nj/locations/summit

READ THE PROCLAMATION:

Whereas, in Morris County, where we have a long history of helping our neighbors in need, American Red Cross Month is a special time to recognize and thank a special group of heroes €“ those selfless Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to assist our community members; and

Whereas, these heroes 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; and

Whereas, the American Red Cross depends on local heroes to deliver help and hope during disasters, we applaud our heroes here in Morris County who give of themselves to assist their neighbors when they need a helping hand; and

Whereas, across the state, county, nation and the world, 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; and

Whereas, the Red Cross collects 40 percent of the nation's blood supply; provides 24-hour support to military members, veterans and their families; teaches millions lifesaving skills; and through its Restoring Family Links program, connects family members separated by crisis, conflict, or migration; and

Whereas, we dedicate the month of March to all who support the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies, and our communities depend on the Red Cross, which relies on donations of time, money and blood to fulfill its humanitarian mission;

Now, Therefore, I, Douglas R. Cabana, Director of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, proclaim March 2017 as American Red Cross Month in Morris County, and I encourage county residents to support this organization and its humanitarian mission.

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