Stuff You Might Not Know About

You Might Not Know About . . .

— By Sarah Gray — The American Red Cross

From a single nurse to a worldwide organization, the American Red Cross is committed to helping those in need all around the globe.

The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in 1881. Known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” she brought supplies, cooked meals, and comforted soldiers during the Civil War. When the war ended, she traveled to Europe. After learning about the Red Cross efforts in Switzerland, she decided the United States should participate in the global American Red Cross in 1881. She served as president until 1904.

The purpose of the American Red Cross has stayed fundamentally the same since its inception: “giving relief to and serving as a medium of communication between members of the American armed forces and their families and providing national and international disaster relief and mitigation.”

The American Red Cross has been a constant source of relief and support Red Cross network and started the

during World War I, World War II, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, and the severe drought during the 1930s. The organization also educates and trains in first aid, water safety, and nutrition. The American Red Cross has recruited thousands of nurses to serve in the military and has staffed hospitals and ambulance companies as well.

On a more local level, the American Red Cross is known for its blood drives. It was the first organization to introduce a civilian blood program which currently supplies more than 40 percent of the blood and blood products in the United States.

For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has served millions of U.S. citizens during their time of need. During the COVID-19 crisis, the American Red Cross has continued to hold blood drives throughout the country. According to the American Red Cross website, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and a single blood donation can potentially save up to three lives. Donors need to be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. Additional measures have been put into place during the pandemic to ensure donor safety. For more information or to sign up to donate, visit www.redcross.org. UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVES IN THE AREA:

HILLSDALE COUNTY September 4 – Hillsdale Baptist Church, Hillsdale; 10:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. October 1 – First United Methodist Church, Hillsdale; 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. October 27 – Missionary Church Outreach Center, Camden; noon to 5:45 p.m. November 6 – Hillsdale Baptist Church, Hillsdale; 10:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

LENAWEE COUNTY September 11 – The Mills Sports & Event Center, Onsted; 10:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. October 4 – 1Mosaic Church, Adrian; 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. October 15 – Blissfield American Legion, Blissfield; 11:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. October 23 – Tecumseh United Methodist Church, Tecumseh; 11 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

BRANCH COUNTY September 2 – Coldwater Eagles, Coldwater; 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. September 17 – Community Care and Conference Center, Coldwater; 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. September 28 – Coldwater Masonic Temple, Coldwater; noon to 5:45 p.m. October 26 – Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church; noon to 5:45 p.m.