Red Cross Donations Will Help in the South, Midwest

As victims of the latest deadly tornado that hit Missouri Sunday night struggle to recover their belongings and find their loved ones, the American Red Cross is accepting donations of blood and money as they work to help storm-ravaged neighborhoods across the South and Midwest.

The Red Cross have opened a shelter in Joplin, MO, while continuing to serve areas hit by tornadoes and/or flooding in the last few weeks in Kentucky, Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and New York.

Mississippi River flooding alone has forced more than 1,000 people to seek refuge in shelters across the South, according to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross estimates that it will spend as much as $31 million responding to the disasters, while preparing to launch another large-scale relief operation to help people along the Mississippi River. To date, about $16 million has been raised in donations.

To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions also may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013.

The Riverview Blood Donation Center, 14031 Pennsylvania Rd., is hosting a Memorial Weekend Giveaway blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-733-2767.

For a complete list of upcoming donation events, visit www.redcross.org.