Local News - April 2003

Donations pour in; money now needed

Red Cross

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

Thanks to an outpouring of support from Lincoln County and all over the country, the American Red Cross has received enough donations to last for four months.

As a result, the Red Cross is suspending the Quality of Life Program, which collected goods to distribute to troops.

“We’re very thankful for everybody’s generosity,” said Louann Freshour, executive director of the Lincoln County branch of the American Red Cross. “This is a very, very caring community.”

The Quality of Life Program sent boxes full of items from hard candy to playing cards to Chapstick overseas to soldiers.

The halt on the military gift packages comes in the wake of heightened security concerns and transportation restrictions by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The department has suspended its own “Any Service Member” and “Operation Dear Abby” services due to security and logistical concerns.

In addition, due to the overwhelming generosity from the public, there are more than enough goods in the distribution pipeline to last an estimated four months, according to a Red Cross.

Freshour said Lincoln County residents have donated enough to fill 20 45-pound boxes.

“That’s quite a lot,” she said.

Those boxes are now sitting in the office, waiting to be sent.

And that’s where things get difficult.

Because of security issues, the Lincoln County chapter has to wait for the National Red Cross to send a control number for each box. The boxes are mailed through the U.S. Postal Service.

There are currently four boxes waiting for control numbers, which leaves 16 boxes just sitting around.

“We have enough that we can send along for a long period of time,” Freshour said. “We don’t want things to be collected and just sit here not being used.”

The Red Cross now needs help with postage and is asking that people give financial donations instead of care package items.

That money will be used for postage — a cost that runs high when mailing heavy boxes, she said.

So far, about $130 has been donated in Lincoln County.

Freshour said it is also important to continue to donate blood on a regular basis. Blood can be donated every eight weeks.

Another way to show support is to become a Red Cross volunteer. The Lincoln County chapter is in need of more Disaster Relief volunteers and will be offering several disaster courses.

On Thursday, there will be a mass care overview. A course on family assistance will be held April 17, and a shelter operation class will be held April 24. The classes start at 6:30 p.m. in the Red Cross office.

Introduction to Disaster Services, a video-based, self-study course, is a prerequisite to all other courses.

Freshour said the support from the community has been heartwarming, especially from the schools.

“Lincoln County has historically always been a county that cares about their neighbors,” Freshour said. “Anytime we needed anything, they have been so generous to come out and support us, and this has been just wonderful.

“We thank everyone for their generosity and for all they’re doing to support the troops, and we appreciate them supporting the Red Cross in this.”

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The Lincoln County chapter of the American Red Cross is located at 527 North Aspen St. You can reach them by phone at 704-735-3500.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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