Red Cross partnering with Western Kansas Broadcast Center to raise Disaster Relief Funds Sunday

Garden City, KS(westernkansasnews.com) The American Red Cross has been called to task. For the past 56 days, the American Red Cross has been responding to disasters across the country providing shelter, food, financial assistance, counseling and recovery resources from hurricanes, flooding, mass shooting and fire.

In partnership with Western Kansas Broadcast Center, American Red Cross volunteers will be collecting monetary donations on Sunday, October 22nd between 12-4 pm in front of the Broadcast Center at 1402 E. Kansas Avenue.

According the Executive Director for Central and Western Kansas American Red Cross, Becky LaPolice, “Monetary gifts are the best way to contribute right now. With Red Cross response and recovery teams on the ground on both coasts, we can best help the relief efforts by providing financial support. Anything from pocket change to thousand dollar gifts will be utilized to help those still in crisis.”

The American Red Cross has sheltered and fed more people in the last 56 days than in the past five years combined. The relief efforts are massive. Not only are Red Cross volunteers deployed across the country, local Red Cross volunteers remain ready to respond to disasters at home.

From fires to storms and other catastrophic events in Southwest, Kansas, Red Cross volunteers are on call 24/7 to respond. Though many generous community members and organizations are ready to contribute in-kind resources, the local teams have no way to sort, store, ship and distribute those items. Volunteers will be at the Broadcast Center accepting change, cash and checks that will directly go to disaster relief. No in-kind donations can be taken at this time. If individuals, groups or organizations would like to contribute outside those hours, please contact the Executive Director at 785-447-3687.
Other ways to help include the following:
1. Become a Red Cross Volunteer. Thousands of volunteers are needed to support an event of this magnitude. Go to www.volunteerconnection.redcross.org to being the application process.
2. Roll up Your Sleeve. The need for blood is constant. Blood drives in Texas have been canceled in the affected areas. Find the nearest blood drive at www.redcrossblood.org
3. Make a Financial Gift. This is the best way to help us respond to all disasters, big and small, down the street, across the country or around the world. You CAN be that difference. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, finding a blood donation site, or making a financial gift, visit www.redcross.org,or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.”