Support includes human resources for volunteer program; continues long history of Red Cross partnership

St. Louis, Thursday, June 28, 2007 - The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is the recipient of a $25,000 gift from Lohr Distributing Company in support of Ready When the Time Comes - a new corporate volunteer recruitment and training program. In addition to the financial contribution, employees from Lohr Distributing Company have been trained to serve as Red Cross volunteers specializing in transporting and delivering emergency supplies to disaster victims during times of great need. As a result of its commitment to serve as a corporate partner for Ready When the Time Comes, the company's trained employees will be available for a volunteer deployment on an as-needed basis in the event of a major local disaster.

"The Red Cross is very grateful for our friends at Lohr Distributing Company," said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "The $25,000 gift and the commitment to provide human resources for Ready When the Time Comes are the latest in Lohr Distributing Company's long history of support for the St. Louis Area Chapter."

While helping the Red Cross and the St. Louis area prepare for future emergencies, Lohr Distributing Company has also been instrumental during the Chapter's recent response to local disasters. In the aftermath of the windstorms in July 2006, the winter storms in December 2006 and January 2007, and the widespread power outages that followed, Lohr Distributing Company joined the St. Louis Area Chapter, the National Guard, and local and state emergency management officials in distributing canned drinking water and Heater Meals to thousands of people throughout the region.

About Ready When the Time Comes :
Ready When the Time Comes enables the Red Cross to recruit and train volunteers from local companies and community organizations so they can be mobilized quickly. Program volunteers receive free, specialized training in crucial disaster response, such as shelter operations, large-scale feeding efforts, and damage assessment. In the event of a local, large-scale disaster, the Red Cross can count on Ready When the Time Comes partners to aid in local efforts.

In support of the Red Cross mission to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies, Ready When the Time Comes was introduced by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and W.W. Grainger, Inc. in 2001. Since that time, Grainger has contributed $1 million to become the National Founding Sponsor, enabling the expansion of the program as part of a national pilot. St. Louis is one of 16 markets where the program will be introduced, and Anheuser-Busch has signed on as the Local Lead Sponsor. Grainger, Citigroup, Fleishman-Hillard, Lohr Distributing Company and State Farm have also joined the local effort as corporate partners.

"We are proud to support 'Ready When the Time Comes'," said Steven Lohr, vice president/general manager for Lohr Distributing Company. "Our expertise in warehousing, logistics and distribution is a crucial link to disaster relief in the St. Louis area. Our warehouse facility will distribute lifesaving supplies to citizens in need, and our extensive fleet of vehicles will deliver disaster relief materials to satellite locations as needed."

For More Information:
To learn more about the $25,000 gift from Lohr Distributing Company or Ready When the Time Comes, the public is encouraged to contact the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

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