HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-19-2002 - 5a ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 19, 2002
Action Age a
Item No.
SUBJECT: American Red Cross Month
DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Proclamation
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation declaring March, 2002 as American Red Cross Month.
BACKGROUND: The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by a visionary woman named
Clara Barton and chartered by Congress in 1905 to act in times of need. As one of the nation's
oldest, most-recognized humanitarian organizations, the American Red Cross is woven tightly
into the fabric of Orange County, providing health and safety training to hundreds of Orange
County residents and compassionate care when disasters and other crises threaten to
overwhelm and/or destroy residents' lives. The Orange County chapter was founded in 1917,
and now responds to more than 25 disasters in Orange County each year.
2001 was a very busy year for the Orange County Red Cross chapter. As Local Disaster
Assistance, the chapter responded to 25 fires and flooded homes and apartments in Orange
County and provided 236 people with financial assistance that included motel rooms, food,
clothes, and other assistance. The chapter also provided food, hot drinks, and support to
hundreds of local firefighters and emergency personnel.
The American Red Cross maintains Disaster Action Teams that are on call 24-hours a day to
provide food, clothing, shelter, health and mental health services to those affected by events
and to rescue and recovery workers. The Orange County chapter provided over 50 volunteers
that were"assigned to national and regional operations, including "Ground Zero" in New York
and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack
recovery. Some 265 people were also trained in disaster relief.
The Red Cross also responds to international emergencies. The Red Cross helped create and
administer America's Fund for Afghan Children, with money donated by thousands of children
across the nation, including Orange County. One million dollars' worth of essential supplies and
medicine has already been shipped to Afghanistan.
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The Red Cross also rushed immediate cash aid and supplies to other countries rocked by
natural disasters and helped people in more than 40 nations get access to safe drinking water
and battle malnutrition and life-threatening diseases such as measles.
Other services provided in 2001 by the Orange County chapter included:
• Blood Services - The Orange County chapter supplied over 6,000 units of blood and plasma
to the Carolina Blood Region. Blood drives were held at the Chapter offices and other
facilities throughout the County.
• Health and Safety Services - The Orange County chapter provided hundreds of training
courses and certification in CPR/first aid, Aquatics and Water Safety, Lifeguard Training,
HIV/AIDS education, Babysitting and others.
• Armed Forces Emergency Services -The Red Cross provided an around-the-clock
communications link between armed forces personnel and their families back home. This is
a vital service for the Orange County chapter due to the large military population in the state
and their use of the UNC hospitals.
• Youth Services - Orange County youth participated in a variety of community services and
received training in leadership development. Red Cross clubs were established at Chapel
Hill High and East Chapel Hill High, and youth volunteer Adrienne Madry was awarded a
Presidential National Student Service Award for over 100 hours of volunteering for the
chapter. She also won a state-wide Prudential Spirit of the Community award for her work
with the Red Cross.
• HIV/AIDS Education - The Orange County chapter initiated the first National Teen AIDS
Hotline in the nation. It is staffed by teens and an adult mentor on Friday and Saturday
nights.
The Red Cross is not a government agency, with all Red Cross disaster assistance given free
of charge, and is made possible by the generous contributions of people's time, money, blood,
and skills.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with approval of the
proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign it.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION DECLARING MARCH,2002 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH
WHEREAS,the Amencan Red cross was founded in real by a visionary woman named Clara Barton
and diamond by Congress in 1905 to act o times of need,and,.
WHERE",me Orange County chapter of We Amended Red Gass Was founded in 1917,and now
Thai t0 more than 25 disastere in Orange County each year;and
WHEREAS,the pmenran Red Cross one of Me ration's oldest most-recrynistl humanitarian
tacit neredaofdd Is ved tightly into the fabric of Orange County,providing health and cal training
to Matto of Orange Countemsmenu and compassionate care when disasters and other chase
roy residents fives', and,
WHEREAS.at Mmes 0tdisasterand alai;strenuous"stand rely upon their It Red Cress chapters
to provBe services for famines mooed of their loved ones,homes,drainage or dignity:and,
WHEREAS,the Amended Rod Crass maintains Disaster Action Teams that are on call 24-hi a day
to pruviere roach dothin9,shelter.health and mental healllt services to those seeded by events and to
rescue ders chapter and recovery wa ,wiM the Orange County having provided war 50 volunteers Met
werse ssigned to national and regional operations,including'Ground Zem"in New York and of the
Pentagon in Washington.In during the September 11,2001 terrorist attack ramrery',and,
WHEREAS,We Red Chas also responds to international emergencies.Indul helping to create and
reminbler Ancersas Fund for Arghan Children,and has already prompted the shipment of one million
dollars'worth odessental supplies and medicine W AfgM1weriman', end,
WHEREAS,the American Red Cress provides hospitals with half Me ration's supply of blood and blood
products for lifesaving residual treatments and routine metlldal procedures,with the Orange County
chapter supplying ever 6.000 units of buotl and plasma to Me Caroline 01good Reform 2001;and,
WHEREAS,Red Crass workers comes the nation and an the Orange County are woMing around-the
dock m full a historical nee of keeping mi ndy personnel and their families in Much and Ceenng other
sma I romforls to ease the stain 0 being far ham home;and,
WHEREAS,the Orange County chapter responded 0 25 fires and tootled homes eM apartments In
Orange County and provided 236 people with financial aseistance Mat included morel rooms,rood,
Cl and other aonstandy and further prWitled food,hot drunks and euplprttmhundadsref Imcel
hre0ghters and emergency personnel;and,
WHEREAS,In 2001, Red Goss clubs were established ar Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill High,
and Me Orange Carol Retl Cross chapter lnidated the firer National Teen AIDS Hotline in the nation)
NOW THEREFORE,do we,the Orange County goad an COmmissiare2, frereby prodalm March 2002
as American Red Cress Menth and encourage Orange County residents W support the Amended Rod
Cress aM speci6dally the Orange County chapters humanitarian mission vdth a get of arm, blood or
money
This the 1 V day of Mamh,2002.
Carry Jacces,Chair
Omnge County Berard W Commissioners