Ways to Help the Red Cross

Disaster Assistance
Ways to Help the Red Cross
By Cruz M. Bustamante
Apr 19, 2008, 11:24

You have undoubtedly heard of the catastrophic events unfolding in the Gulf Coast states. According to BloodSource, an agent for the American Red Cross, many blood centers in the affected states have been flooded or have lost power. Since blood only has a shelf life of five days and many patients need a ready supply of this highly perishable resource, national planning efforts are currently focused on ways to replenish blood banks, among other pressing concerns. With this in mind, I urge you to find the time to donate the gift of life.

Hurricane Katrina was a storm of historic proportions. The Red Cross already has opened more than 200 shelters to house the thousands of residents who have been forced out of their homes. Red Cross personnel and volunteers also are preparing for the possibility that they will need to provide more than 500,000 hot meals each day to victims of this storm. A disaster of this magnitude could happen anywhere in the world, but this one is right here in the United States. Please join me in lending a hand to our fellow Americans.

Because there are serious transportation problems in the flooded areas, financial donations can offer the most direct method of helping the Red Cross immediately purchase and distribute the supplies and other emergency provisions that are desperately needed. If you would like to make a donation to help, please call 1-800-HELP NOW, or log onto: Http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html.

As a lifetime blood donor, I donate regularly and I encourage you to do the same. I plan to donate again-especially in light of the special need that has arisen due to the hurricane. One pint of blood can help as many as three people in need. To find out more about donating blood or volunteering, please visit: Http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/ or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to locate the nearest blood center.

Let us all take action to help those in need. Thank you so much for your consideration of this request.

From the desk of:

CRUZ M. BUSTAMANTE
Lieutenant Governor
State of California