THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ~ WILLAMETTE CHAPTER

The American Red Cross is governed by volunteers and supported by community donations. The American Red Cross is a nationwide network of more than 600 chapters and 36 Blood Service regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

More than a half million Red Cross volunteers and employees annually mobilize relief to families affected by nearly 70,000 disasters, train almost 10 million people in lifesaving skills and provide nearly 450,000 services to U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is also the largest supplier of blood and blood products to approximately 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.

In Oregon, the American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disaster every 20 hours; supplies more than 90 percent of Oregon's blood; teaches thousands of Oregonians lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission

 Since it's founding in 1917, perhaps nothing has characterized the Willamette Chapter of the American Red Cross more than its ability to respond rapidly to crises and to deliver services whenever and wherever they are most needed throughout Lincoln, Marion and Polk counties of Oregon.  Virtually all of these services have been carried out by volunteers who have trained for the responsibility and privilege of helping their neighbors in times of need.