How many times have you heard people complain that legislators south of Roanoke or north of Knoxville just don’t know we exist? Lucky for us, the Red Cross does. The Mountain Empire Chapter serve nine counties in southwest Virginia, plus Sullivan County, with only four full-time employees, two part-time staffers and 193 volunteers.
At its last Red, White and You event, we were allowed to inspect the vehicle that deploys to disasters with the appropriate supplies for a three-week stint. We heard stories that keep staffers going in their atmosphere of constant readiness. We could imagine what it would be like to spend the night in an emergency shelter as we gazed upon the display. I was surprised to learn that in one year 7,000 people has taken classes, 2,500 children saw Red Cross programs, and 173 families received support following a home fire. What really surprised me was learning that Red Cross provides emergency messages to members of the Armed Forces when their families need to communicate quickly. With nearly 500 messages delivered in one year, they have the expertise to get the paperwork completed correctly the first time to get the fastest response.
Do yourself a favor; call 276-645-6650 and get yourself an invite to their next event. Besides the delicious treats, you’ll leave knowing why you are glad the Red Cross is there when you need them.
Alice McCaffrey
Bristol, Tenn.
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