FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KENTUCKY CARES: Oklahoma Tornado Relief
LEXINGTON, KY – May 21, 2013 – The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross along with promotional partners WLEX, WKYT, WTVQ, WDKY, Clear Channel Communications, Cumulus Broadcasting, LM Communications, the Lexington Herald-Leader, and Smiley Pete Publishing are joining together to raise money for Oklahoma Tornado Relief.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who lost loved ones or have suffered through these deadly storms,” said Terry Burkhart, CEO of the Bluegrass Chapter. “Red Cross disaster teams are working around the clock to help the thousands of people whose lives are turned upside down. More Red Cross assistance is on the way.”
The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Individuals or organizations wishing to make a contribution to assist those affected by disasters like the Oklahoma tornadoes, floods, and other crises may do so by calling the Kentucky Cares hotline at 859-977-5366 from noon to midnight on Wednesday, May 22. After Wednesday donors may call 859-253-1331 or 1-800-REDCROSS. Online gifts can be made by visiting redcross.org. Donations are also being accepted at all area Kroger and Central Bank locations.
Donations can also be made in-person at Fayette Mall (corner of Nicholasville Road and Reynolds Road) on Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Staff from our promotional partners will be on hand to greet and thank donors.
The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross is making arrangements for local volunteers to deploy to those areas affected by the recent storms. “We have two volunteers on their way to Oklahoma in our Emergency Response Vehicle currently and we expect more to deploy throughout the next several days,” said Stinson Miller, Director of Volunteers for the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Nationally, 95% of all American Red Cross staff are unpaid volunteers. Last year more than 500,000 individuals volunteered to work over 70,000 individual disasters.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
