Mario Ojeda, Jr.

After 129 years of service, the American Red Cross is still going strong

Weeks after Jan. 12, the continuous media coverage still dominated the airwaves: "7.0 earthquake hits Haiti." The epic disaster pulled the world together to help rescue the people of the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere from the most devastating event in its history. Since the earthquake, we have witnessed the terrible aftermath, and we will continue to see the effects on the surviving inhabitants of the country. One thing is certain: the Haitian people, like so many other disaster-stricken societies worldwide, will rebuild.
     Among the countless Dante-esque scenes of rubble, injured and disoriented survivors and the bodies of unknown thousands, the hand of humanitarian aid quickly reached out. There were and still are many agencies contributing to the disaster relief effort in Haiti, and among the best-known is the American Red Cross. It has been highlighted by President Obama as a trusted disaster relief organization.
     Established in 1881, the American Red Cross has become one of the largest donor-based organizations dedicated to providing disaster relief, emergency assistance and education. Since its founding, it has evolved into a nationwide network of close to 30,000 employees and more than a million volunteers ready to provide disaster relief assistance quickly during a state of emergency. The organization trains millions of people in emergency medical skills nationwide. Along with being the largest supplier of blood and blood services to thousands of hospitals, it also exchanges emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families.
     The Red Cross is trained to respond to thousands of disasters annually, ranging from house fires to major natural catastrophes. In addition to the Haiti earthquake, some of the most recent disasters where the Red Cross has provided relief are: Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita; the Midwest floods; the Kansas and Florida tornadoes and the Minneapolis Bridge collapse.
     Each year, March is designated as American Red Cross Month. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate the organization and its ability to quickly respond to even the worst disasters of our time. To contribute or find more information, visit their Web site at redcross.org.
     With that, may the American Red Cross continue its important work!
     Mario Ojeda Jr. is a professional, over-the-road driver.