If there were one word to describe the Red Cross, it would be “community.” Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the more than half a million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through nearly 700 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world.
In 1979, I was one of those people who needed a little help from the Red Cross. An F-5 tornado struck my hometown of Wichita Falls, Texas on April 10, 1979 and tore up most of the Southwest portion of our town. My mother and I were left homeless when our home was damaged beyond recognition, and we turned to the Red Cross for help when we didn't know what else to do. They helped us put our lives back together, and I've never forgotten the kindness and generosity of the Red Cross workers who came from all over the country to help our town.
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| Photo of the 1979 Wichita Falls Tornado |
My mother was so touched by what the Red Cross had done for us, that as soon as we had our lives back on track she went down to volunteer for our local chapter. She went on to become a Red Cross reserve and eventually a Red Cross employee traveling across the country in disaster services for the next 20 years.
This March, a group of writers, authors, publishers and bloggers are raising awareness and founds for the American Red Cross through a month-long event called "Writers For The Red Cross."
This online event is intended to raise funds and awareness for the Red Cross and its work in communities across the country. They will be auctioning off publishing-related items and services donated by authors, publicists, agents, and editors. They also have daily guest posts from authors about “What the Red Cross Means to Me” and a daily countdown of “31 Things You Didn’t Know About the Red Cross” on the official event website. All donors who give over $25 will also be able to select one free book from a range of books donated and shipped by publishers for the event.
Writers for the Red Cross is an independent group of writers and publishing professionals who are working together in a loose affiliation to support the Red Cross during the month of March.
A portion of proceeds from the online Writers for the Red Cross event will go to the host chapter (Nashville Area Red Cross) and the remaining portion will go to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief
Check out the website from now through March 31st. (http://www.writersfortheredcross.org/) And remember, you never know when it might be your time of need, and I guarantee - the Red Cross will be there
