2009-11-04 - Red Cross Recognizes U.S. Veterans and Supports Active Military Personnel

PITTSBURGH – As the flag flies this Veterans Day, the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter recognizes the contributions and dedication of U.S. service members, past and present. At the local Red Cross, however, the commitment of U.S. military personnel is an active consideration, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Through its Service to the Armed Forces Program (SAF), the Chapter spends an estimated 4,500 hours annually helping family members at home connect with their loved ones in uniform. Members of the military and their families can rely on the Red Cross to stay in touch during times of emergency or crisis, such as the death or sickness of a loved one, or during other momentous events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross relays these messages to service members stationed anywhere in the world. During the last fiscal year, 695 military families turned to SAF volunteers for assistance during an emergency. In order to continue the SAF mission, the Red Cross is looking for additional volunteers to keep the lines of communication open for these families. SAF volunteers answer calls from local families, concerning important news they would like to relay to a loved one in the military. Volunteers then validate and process the information using a global network of Red Cross staff and volunteers. SAF volunteers are placed in an on-call rotation with flexible scheduling based on each volunteer’s availability. Additionally, this crucial function can be performed remotely, such as from the comfort of one’s home. If you are interested in becoming an SAF volunteer, please contact Renee Willow of your local Red Cross at 412-263-3136 or email her at WillowR@usa.redcross.org.  All trainings are free and registration is required. Volunteers will be asked to provide references and to complete a background check.  For more information, visit swpa.redcross.org.