By Trish Wallace, as published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals .

To better serve Jefferson County residents, the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross wants to raise $60,000 for improvements to the Jefferson County Service Center and for local disaster relief services.

"The big improvements will be to make the center more efficient," Omar Ruiz, Jefferson County Service Center supervisor, said. "Like making the flooring all tile for easier cleaning and maintenance, computer upgrades, and moving shelving out of the way so things are out of classrooms and off shelves."

Other improvements to the center, located at 3880 Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold, will include new classroom space, indoor and outdoor signage, chairs, tables, other furniture and a washer and dryer. The estimated costs for these projects total $41,600, and work on the center is already underway.

The other $18,400 will be designated for disaster relief.

According to spokesman Stephen Hall, disaster action teams respond to local emergencies, such as floods and fires, and make sure people have food, clothing, places to stay and any kind of counseling or other necessary assistance.

To raise the intended funds, the Jefferson County Campaign Committee is reaching out to local businesses to encourage them to take ownership of Jefferson County, Shelly Myers, major gift officer for the St. Louis Area Chapter, said.

All of the committee members live and work in the community and have many connections. They reach out through chamber meetings, arrange face to face visits, send out letters and use contacts. But, campaigning is just getting started.

"Just a few donations have trickled in from the letters so far," Myers said.

Some organizations, however, are always reliable.

"Servpro has just been wonderful to the Red Cross," Myers said, adding that the company has been a financial help.

She also recognized KJFF Radio for being a dependable friend of the Jefferson County Service Center.

The improvements to the building will provide better use of the facility for its health and safety classes. These courses instruct in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators. The service center also sponsors blood drives and community disaster training - free classes that educate the public on how to prepare for disasters. It also provides mortgage and rental assistance in Jefferson County.

"I want to thank the people of Jefferson County," Hall said. "Keep supporting. What they're doing has a direct result on people's lives."

Myers agreed.

"The community has embraced the Red Cross and the service center in Arnold," she said. "Because of the support, we're able to have more programs and services."

The committee hopes to have raised the $60,000 by June 30, the end of their fiscal year.

For more information on the Jefferson County Campaign, visit www.redcrossstl.orgor call the service center at 636.464.9150.