RED CROSS OFFERS CLASSES

The American Red Cross chapter in Cape Girardeau is offering winter preparation classes at area elementary schools.

The class, "Surviving the Cold," will be offered Monday and Tuesday at Franklin School and Thursday at May Greene school.

The classes begin at 10 a.m. and are taught by Ron MacCubbin.

This is the first year for the classes, said Mary Burton, executive director.

"We are trying to expand our educational responsibilities in the area and reach more diverse groups about different aspects of the Red Cross," she said.

The class is offered primarily to children and senior citizens because they are most affected by the winter weather, Burton said.

The American Red Cross chapter serves the entire Southeast Missouri area.

Another first for the Red Cross is a program called "Learn and Serve America."

It is funded by a grant written by the local Red Cross chapter. The program's objective is to get youth to become more involved in their communities.

And to accomplish this, the 15 students from six area high schools are learning first aid and CPR so they can teach others in their community.

"The commitment of serving and doing good starts early," Burton said. "And they can be told as we have been told many times that `I utilized what I learned in your class and helped someone."

The students earned their certification Wednesday. Other classes should begin later.

To schedule a winter preparation class or find out more about first-aid classes, call the Red Cross office at 335-9471.