Although Red Cross month and Women’s History month are coming to a close for 2009, everyday women across the nation continue to help the Red Cross fulfill the mission of providing relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

One woman leading the efforts is Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross. Since coming on board last year, Gail’s experience in running large organizations and track record for improving service delivery to the public have helped her guide the Red Cross in just a few short months.

Gail’s leadership and the time and dedication of hundreds of employees and volunteers enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food and comfort to those affected by disasters like the Red River flooding; connect military service personnel with their loved ones during an emergency; teach CPR and first aid so people can save lives; and so much more.

So, during these next few days, I encourage you to leave a little comment on the blog about the women in the St. Louis area (and across the nation) who you know have reached out to help someone in their greatest time of need. Or, if you want to know how you can help provide a family shelter after a home fire, teach someone how to save a life using CPR or help a child learn-to-swim, look into how you can volunteer for the Red Cross.

Kimberly Pratt is the marketing and communication specialist for the St. Louis Area Chapter