Honoring everyday heroes

Dear editor,

It's Red Cross Month, and we would like to recognize our everyday heroes.

These are our volunteers who help disaster victims get on the road to recovery. They give blood to help someone in the hospital. They brighten the day of an injured service member in a hospital. They take our classes and step forward to help someone having a heart attack or to save a drowning child.

March is a great time to become part of the Red Cross. Household members can work together on a preparedness plan. People can take a class or volunteer their time. They can give blood or make a financial donation.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families; collects and distributes about 40 percent of the nation's blood supply; and trains millions of people in life-saving skills every year.

In 2014 the Southeast Missouri Chapter responded to 294 local emergencies, assisted 373 military families and trained almost 5,000 people in lifesaving skills. Donors rolled up their sleeves with the Red Cross collecting more than 14,000 units of blood.

Red Cross Month is observed in dedication of everyone who supports our mission. We are grateful to people for their generosity, which enables us to continue our work, and encourage everyone to become an Everyday Hero during Red Cross Month by helping their neighbors.

Sincerely,

Sara Gerau, executive director, Southeast Missouri Chapter of the Red Cross