As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the globe, people all over the world are questioning when their lives will return to a pre-pandemic normal. Change seems to be a key characteristic of this COVID-19 season. One community very familiar with change is the military community. They are very adept at handling transitions as they experience it through regular moves, training missions and deployments. However, this pandemic brings a heightened degree of stress, challenging their ability to cope.

For over a century, the American Red Cross has been committed to serving our military, veterans and their families and that commitment remains today.

In South Carolina, our teams continue to complete casework with military families, host resiliency classes for our veterans, host virtual deployment briefing, sew masks for our veterans, helping deliver care packages to homebound veterans and so much more.

“We had really established relationship going into the COVID-19 environment and that helped to continue the services we provide,” said Nancy Cataldo, the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Regional Director. “We are trying to be creative and find things to do virtually to keep everyone engaged. We learn new things every day.”

She mentioned that before COVID-19 impacted the nation, many programs and services were offered at military installations and Veteran Affair facilities. Much of that work has moved virtually.

“It has been a learning curve. If you didn’t know how to use virtual software, you sure do now,” Cataldo said. ‘Before COVID-19, we were doing a lot of Art Therapy Programs. Now, we are not able to be in the facilities so what we are doing is providing the craft kits to the Veteran Affairs staff and they are still able to provide that service to our veterans,” said Cataldo. “In addition, some of the VA’s are putting together care packages for home bound veterans and as a part of those packages, we are supplying those art kits. We are also helping with the delivery of those to the homebound veterans.”

To address the new stressors presented by COVID-19, the American Red Cross is offering a solution by launching a virtual, interactive workshop to help the military community manage pandemic-related stress and learn healthy coping methods.

“In August we will be providing three more resiliency programs virtually,” said Cataldo. “There are still pre-deployment briefings that are being done. We were able to record briefings by our volunteers and we were able to provide them to the installations so they can continue to share Red Cross information at their briefings.’

Honoring the rich history of the American Red Cross’ rapid response to the Spanish flu, a new project has launched to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by making face coverings for veteran and military hospitals and military installations across the world. Currently, crafters all over the globe are putting needle to thread to honor this 100-year-old tradition of supporting military families through sewing.

That work is also happening right here in South Carolina.

‘We continue to have people sew masks for our VA facilities. Many of our volunteers have enjoyed that,’ Cataldo said.

On top of this work, the South Carolina team continues to work and have provided over 950 case services and helped over 290 military and veteran families since July 1^st.

YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

In the face of emergencies, including COVID-19, the American Red Cross continues to support our military, veterans and their families domestically and overseas. Find out how you can volunteer your time to support our military at home and across the globe by visiting online at redcross.org/saf or downloading our Hero Care app in English or Spanish.

Visit redcross.org/coronavirus for more information on COVID-19 safety. For the latest information, please visit the CDC website at cdc.gov/covid19. If you live outside the United States, health and safety tips can be found through the World Health Organization and by following your local Red Cross or Red Crescent society’s social media channels (directory).

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.