Page 5 - Giving Guide_FINAL

A TIME FOR THANKS 5

American Red Cross

The Idaho chapter will also go Monetary donations safety [of everyone] is priority one.” with preparedness and safety, such
into the VA in Boise and provide provide food, shelter When people give monetary as by installing smoke alarms.
service there, such as through a donations, they’re helping the Red “We depend on the generosity
therapy dog program partnership, and more Cross provide assistance to those of our donors to make these
and it will provide comfort kits — “We’re facing some challenges families displaced by a disaster. programs go,” Ochsner said.
containing shampoo, toothpaste, in the COVID environment,” The Red Cross helps those families The Red Cross also spends a lot
a hair brush and more — to Ochsner said. “In the past where meet their most immediate needs of time preparing for disasters,
groups that support homeless there was a wildfire or flood, — including lodging, food and Ochsner said, which entails
veterans. when [community members] clothing — and beginning the offering training sessions and
The American Red Cross serves needed shelter, we’d put them recovery process. coordinating shelters, such as
more than 1,000 military families up in community centers or A $10 donation will provide a through partnerships with other
in Idaho every year, Ochsner said. churches, but with COVID we want hot meal to an individual staying nonprofits and city or county
“Our volunteers are truly, truly to practice social distancing and at a Red Cross shelter. governments.
amazing people, and it’s been a keep people safe.” A $15 donation will help the Red “We couldn’t do this without
challenging time during COVID, it When the American Red Cross Cross install one smoke alarm in a elected officials [and] community
makes everything that much more Idaho chapter, including some of home, for free. partners, all those who work
difficult,” Ochsner said. “But our its volunteers, responded to the A $20 donation provides three hand-in - hand during a disaster,”
volunteers continue to raise their summer fires, they helped put up warm meals to a family staying at Ochsner said. “As much as we
hand. They’re always there when displaced residents in hotel rooms. a Red Cross shelter. depend on volunteers, we depend
we need them and when their “That of course increases our In addition to recovery from a on the community partnerships.”
communities need them.” cost,” Ochsner said. “[But] the house fire, the Red Cross also helps Photos provided by American Red Cross