Back Dear Editor: This Thanksgiving, the American Red Cross extends thanks to our friends throughout the St. Louis area for their incredible outpouring of support. Because of your generosity, the Red Cross was able to touch this community more than 407,000 times over the last year through local programs and services, while providing direct emergency assistance to more than 5,700 hurricane evacuees who made their way to the St. Louis area in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In the St. Louis area each year, more than 84,000 people receive training in first aid and CPR, more than 60,000 people participate in community disaster education workshops and emergency preparedness drills, and nearly 37,000 people are trained in water-safety programs. In addition, 6,000 military personnel and families are assisted through Armed Forces Emergency Services; more than 3,200 blood drives are staffed by dedicated Red Cross volunteers; and 1,100 families receive disaster relief, including food, clothing and shelter after losing their homes to fire. I’m proud to be part of a humanitarian organization dedicated to helping our community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. To our donors and volunteers who give generously of their time, money and blood to make sure that Red Cross programs and services are always available, we say: “Thank you.” Because the Red Cross is not a government agency, we depend on your support. Best regards for a safe and healthy Thanksgiving holiday. Joseph C. White CEO, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Note: This letter was also published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals, Mid Rivers Newsmagazine, Northeast County Journal, O’Fallon Journal, St. Charles County Business Record, St. Charles Journal, St. Louis American, St. Peters Journal and Wentzville Journal, among others. This story may be available for an Adobe Acrobat PDF download. Click on the link below to visit the site download center. If a PDF is available, the file will automatically open in your browser.

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