Wabash Valley American Red Cross Chapter kicks off Save the Day campaign

TERRE HAUTE -- Jadcore Inc. and the Wabash Valley American Red Cross Chapter teamed up to kick-off the 14th annual Save the Day campaign.

The goal of this year's community campaign is to raise at least $40,000 in 30 days to help meet the most urgent emergency needs of local families who lose their home to fires, to help provide disaster preparedness training and materials to area youth, families, the elderly and neighborhoods at risk; and to provide emergency services to area armed forces families.

The campaign includes Clay, Greene, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties in Indiana and Edgar County, Ill.

In Putnam County, Ginger Scott and Kathie Skeel are leading the campaign.

Bob Baesler chairs the 2010 campaign.

"I am excited to be part of this critical community effort to help connect donors to those in need of a helping hand when a home fire, or a heart attack, or crisis in a local military family strikes," Baesler explained.

Zamberletti's Restaurant, Terre Haute, was the site of the campaign's Thursday kick-off reception for campaign volunteers. Jadcore Inc, has served as the lead Save the Day Campaign donor since the campaign's inception.

Over the years, Jadcore Inc. has given thousands of dollars to launch the campaign, and the local American Red Cross Chapter has turned those dollars into help and hope.

"We at Jadcore Inc. are very proud to be associated with such a well respected and well managed charitable institution as the Wabash Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross," Jadcore Inc. president David Doti said. "Because of their great work, I am proud to donate the money to be the lead sponsor of the local Red Cross Save the Day Campaign."

In the past year, the Wabash Valley Red Cross responded to 139 local home fires helping more than 500 local disaster clients at a cost of almost $80,000 with emergency food, clothing, lodging, personal hygiene items, critical medications, eyeglasses and mental health support.

Families use Red Cross financial assistance to purchase what they need from the local merchants of their choice. The local chapter also provided emergency communication services for 145 local military families; briefed 653 National Guard members and their families prior to deployment; taught 224 people international humanitarian law; and trained over 28,000 people in lifesaving skills

Chapter board member Cynthia Belt sponsored the Terre Haute kick off.

The annual Save the Day Campaign helps to fortify the local chapter's response capabilities.

"Funds for our emergency services urgently need to be continuously replenished because, when disasters and emergencies occur, your local Red Cross is there. It's a wonderful example of neighbors helping neighbors overcome tragedy," Rod Bosley, board chair emphasized. "And the American Red Cross Congressional Charter requires that we respond regardless of the cash we may have on hand to pay the costs."

All American Red Cross disaster relief, disaster education, emergency services to armed forces families are free, made possible by the generosity of the people, corporations, foundations and United Ways in Clay, Greene, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo Counties in Indiana and Edgar County Illinois.

To find out more about the work of the Red Cross in the Wabash Valley and the Save the Day Campaign, call Chapter Executive Director Carol Stevens at 812-232-3393 extension 11 or cstevens@wabashvalleyredcross.org.

Contributions to Save the Day can be mailed to: American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter, 700 South Third Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807 or online at www.wabashvalleyredcross.org.