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As Troops Deploy, Red Cross Chapters Help Ease Transition
Written by
Bonnie Gillespie
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Wednesday, February 26, 2003 — With U.S. military forces overseas gaining momentum, communities across America have turned to their local Red Cross chapters for ways to support service men and women in the Persian Gulf and the families they left behind.
Sgt. Juan Martinez of San Antonio, TX, assists with the distribution of comfort kits to local soldiers deploying to the Persian Gulf.
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From distributing Red Cross comfort kits, to collecting items for goodie bags to be shipped overseas, to giving Beanie Babies to children of deployed service personnel, Red Cross chapters nationwide have developed innovative methods to meet the unique needs of an uncertain time.
"Getting to know" the Red Cross and the services available is essential for members of the armed forces, especially reserves and new recruits who are unfamiliar with Red Cross emergency messaging and family financial assistance.
In response, volunteers and staff at Red Cross chapters in military base communities have been providing "Get to Know Us Before You Need Us" presentations as part of orientation when military members report for active duty.
"We have been very busy providing the 'Get to Know Us' programs for service members and their families," said Linda Hughes, Director of Emergency Services for the Southeastern Virginia Chapter, which serves the Norfolk and Virginia Beach areas and represents the largest naval population in the world.
"As men and women come to the bases and get checked in, they are sent directly to us to find out how Red Cross services work," said Hughes. "Over the past month, we've done more than 600 'Get to Know Us' presentations and last year sent more than 8000 emergency messages."
Not only are local chapters like Southeastern Virginia active in their local military community, but many Red Cross offices around the U.S. have been flooded with donated goods, gifts and cards for armed forces members. The Cincinnati Area Chapter has become a clearing house for letters and items collected from schoolchildren, individuals and businesses wanting to lift the spirits of service men and women overseas.
"We have a long tradition of working with military service members and their families," said Linda Fink, Director of Family Assistance Services for the Cincinnati Area Chapter. "We can help individuals and groups decide what is good to donate."
Children of military service men and women are also recipients of special services from their local Red Cross chapters.
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Personal hygiene items, drink mixes, paperback novels, sunscreen and chapstick are among the most functional items collected in Charlotte, N.C., by the Greater Carolinas Chapter to be packaged in goodie bags known as "Sacks-O-Smiles" and sent to service members overseas.
The Ottawa County Chapter launched the "Military Connect" card program within their community, offering phone cards that can be purchased for military personnel to allow soldiers to make free calls, access voicemail messages and have the opportunity to communicate with loved ones.
"Leaving families, friends and babies is often even more difficult for the reservists and their families than the active duty military who are more accustomed to deployment," said Hughes. "Some reservists expected never to go to war and this may be the first time they've left their jobs and families."
Family and friends of military service members are also supplied special services by their local Red Cross chapters. At the Heartland Chapter, Red Cross workers are organizing a support group that would connect military families with other families with members on active duty.
Red Cross staff at the Central Plains Chapter in Nebraska, which already hosts a support group for military families, believes that the group has bonded even more since recent deployments.
"I think these families have always dealt with the possibility," said Donna Titman, Executive Director of the Central Plains Chapter. "The potential for the war becoming a reality impacts their lives directly . . . if it happens it will affect these local families in a very real way."
The American Red Cross is not a government agency. We rely on the assistance of caring supporters like you to deliver our critical services. You can support U.S. military members and their families through the American Red Cross as we provide assistance and comfort. Your gift will support the nationally coordinated Red Cross services provided to military families across the country and to American service men and women located throughout the world. Please make a financial donation to Service to Armed Forces by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions may be sent to the American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces, P.O. Box 91820, Washington, DC 20090. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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