American Red Cross: Greater Richmond Chapter
The American Red Cross, Greater Richmond Chapter, serves citizens of the city of Richmond and the counties of Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfield, Amelia, Powhatan, Goochland and New Kent. Services include disaster preparedness and recovery (helping victims with food, lodging, medications and other emergency needs). The Chapter provides free transportation to life-sustaining medical appointments such as chemotherapy and kidney dialysis, provides aid and support for military personnel and their families and offers life-saving instruction such as CPR/First Aid and Pet First Aid.
Programs Supported by the Community Action Fund:
Since 1917, their Disaster Relief program has been meeting the needs of individuals affected by disaster. Red Cross responds whether the disaster is a fire in a single-family home, an industrial accident that affects thousands, or a hurricane that disrupts the lives of many. Often, victims of disaster are also our most vulnerable citizens – children, low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled – so assistance from the Red Cross helps to prevent homelessness in many cases. The comprehensive disaster services program includes providing for the immediate emergency needs of disaster victims or emergency workers. Services include setting up temporary shelters, fixed or mobile feeding operations and distributing relief supplies. The Red Cross focuses initially on the disaster related needs that are essential in order to enable victims to resume their normal living arrangements such as food, clothing and shelter. Once immediate needs are met, program staff help clients to develop and implement a long-term recovery plan. Additional services include disaster health services, disaster mental health services, and client services that support the disaster victim’s recovery process.
The Disaster Preparedness program ensures a resilient community though education and coalition building. The program educates vulnerable populations on how to prepare for and mitigate the impact of disasters. In addition, the program develops and strengthens relationships with local agencies and organizations tasked with response and relief efforts. By bringing these organizations together, resources and relationships are developed that make relief efforts more efficient and effective when disasters occur.
The Transportation Services program provides safe, reliable transportation for individuals in the community who would not otherwise be able to access vital medical services. The program focuses its efforts on providing services to those people who fall in-between the gaps of services already offered by other agencies. Last year, this program served 456 individuals.
