Red Cross Collects $50,000 In Local Donations For Relief
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The local Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross has worked to respond to the needs of individuals and families impacted by the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast late in August.
"Our main focus has been to engage in fundraising by receiving donations for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina disaster relief program," said Larry Peppel, Kosciusko County Red Cross director. "So far our local chapter has received more than $50,000 in donations from local citizens, businesses, organizations, schools and other groups. We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity of the county residents. While this local response has been most significant, the National American Red Cross reports more than $600 million has been pledged to the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund."
At the same time, more than 70 local volunteers were trained in disaster response so they might serve in the disaster area. A total of 26 Red Cross volunteers are in the Gulf Coast area on a disaster assignment and two other people were assigned to assist other Red Cross chapters in Indiana to provide relief to evacuees who are relocating to Indiana, either temporarily or permanently.
"I am so very impressed by the number of volunteers from our county and the surrounding area that have contacted our chapter and requested to participate in the training and then have accepted an assignment to the disaster area. We are meeting new people who wish to volunteer literally every day and we are doing our best to train and accommodate them in a timely fashion. We are hopeful that many of these volunteers will return and become volunteers for our local chapter, working on our local Disaster Action Response Team.
"The hurricane disaster response project will be ongoing for many months in my opinion, and the need for volunteers will continue the need for financial support to provide the funding to assist families and individuals to get established and develop recovery plans. We are well on our way at this point and I wish to express my sincere appreciation on behalf of the American Red Cross to all of our donors who have graciously supported this critical effort," Peppel said. [[In-content Ad]]
The local Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross has worked to respond to the needs of individuals and families impacted by the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast late in August.
"Our main focus has been to engage in fundraising by receiving donations for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina disaster relief program," said Larry Peppel, Kosciusko County Red Cross director. "So far our local chapter has received more than $50,000 in donations from local citizens, businesses, organizations, schools and other groups. We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity of the county residents. While this local response has been most significant, the National American Red Cross reports more than $600 million has been pledged to the Katrina Disaster Relief Fund."
At the same time, more than 70 local volunteers were trained in disaster response so they might serve in the disaster area. A total of 26 Red Cross volunteers are in the Gulf Coast area on a disaster assignment and two other people were assigned to assist other Red Cross chapters in Indiana to provide relief to evacuees who are relocating to Indiana, either temporarily or permanently.
"I am so very impressed by the number of volunteers from our county and the surrounding area that have contacted our chapter and requested to participate in the training and then have accepted an assignment to the disaster area. We are meeting new people who wish to volunteer literally every day and we are doing our best to train and accommodate them in a timely fashion. We are hopeful that many of these volunteers will return and become volunteers for our local chapter, working on our local Disaster Action Response Team.
"The hurricane disaster response project will be ongoing for many months in my opinion, and the need for volunteers will continue the need for financial support to provide the funding to assist families and individuals to get established and develop recovery plans. We are well on our way at this point and I wish to express my sincere appreciation on behalf of the American Red Cross to all of our donors who have graciously supported this critical effort," Peppel said. [[In-content Ad]]