JACKSON, Wyo. — The Jackson Town Council is recognizing March 2024 as American Red Cross Month.
At the March 4 meeting, Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson read a proclamation and encouraged Jacksonites to reach out and support the humanitarian mission of the American Red Cross.
Dee Buckstaff, American Red Cross Community Volunteer Leader was present at the meeting and thanked the council for recognizing the Red Cross in March.
“I know a lot of people don’t realize that we are actually here, and that we do respond to all kinds of disasters, including home fires,” Buckstaff said.
She said that volunteers are available to visit homes to check smoke alarms and replace batteries and alarms if needed through the Home Fire Campaign. There are also CPR and First Aid classes offered through the Red Cross locally.
“Our volunteering is neighbors helping neighbors.”
– Josh Stewart, Volunteer Recruitment Manager for the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming
Founded by Clara Barton, in 1881, the American Red Cross provides disaster relief in the U.S. and abroad and has provided services to the American armed forces and their families since 1900. According to the Red Cross, in the 1940s the organization developed the first nationwide civilian blood program and provides more than 40% of the blood products in the U.S. The Red Cross also certifies and trains people for CPR, First Aid, Basic Life Support, babysitting, caregiving, lifeguarding, and more.
The first American Red Cross Month proclamation was made by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943. Since then, every U.S. President has proclaimed March American Red Cross Month.
Morton Levinson read the proclamation at the opening of the meeting.
“Today, kindhearted individuals in our community exemplify Barton’s commitment as they step up through the Wyoming Chapter of the American Red Cross to provide a beacon of hope for our neighbors in need,” Morton Levinson said. “Through their voluntary and selfless contributions, they make a lifesaving difference in people’s darkest hours — whether it’s delivering shelter, food and comfort during disasters; supporting military families, veterans and caregivers through the unique challenges of service; saving lives with first aid, CPR and other skills; or delivering aid and reconnecting loved ones separated by global crises.”
March 27 is the 10th annual Red Cross Giving Day, which according to the Red Cross, “aims to rally 30,000 supporters nationwide to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.”
Locally, the American Red Cross helps families and individuals through a joint Colorado and Wyoming Chapter.
Josh Stewart, Volunteer Recruitment Manager for the American Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming, said, “Our volunteering is neighbors helping neighbors.” Stewart stressed the importance of having local volunteers available to help those in need.
In the case of a home fire, several volunteers are called on. Stewart explained that the fire department will call the Red Cross dispatch team, staffed by volunteers. Those volunteers will call on disaster relief team members in Teton County, and those team members then show up to help the family in need. There are also volunteer case workers who will follow up with folks.
More information about the American Red Cross Colorado and Wyoming Chapter is available here and details about volunteering and how to sign up are available here.
