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I am
homeless due to a fire/building collapse. Can the Red Cross help me?
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Is there a charge for disaster relief services?
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Can I volunteer to help disaster victims in other
parts of the country?
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I would like to donate my used goods to help
disaster victims, where do I bring them?
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Is the American Red Cross part of the United States
government?
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What
is the role of Red Cross workers with the military in time of
conflict?
Q.
I am homeless due to a fire/building collapse.
Can the Red Cross help me?
A. People who have
become homeless due to disasters such as fires or building collapse may
contact our Emergency Services department at
at
(507) 437-4589 or email
us at
mowerarc@charter.net. for information about assistance.
If you have more questions
about our emergency services, please call
at
(507) 437-4589 or email
us at
mowerarc@charter.net.
If you are a disaster victim looking for our assistance, please do not
contact us via e-mail, but instead call us to ensure a timely response.
Q. Is there a charge for disaster relief services?
A. No. All American
Red Cross disaster relief is provided free of charge. It is made
possible through generous gifts of time and money that people make to
the American Red Cross.
Q. Can I volunteer to help disaster victims in
other parts of the country?
A. Yes, we do have a
program that people volunteer for to help out at disaster sites around
the country. There are many requirements to apply to join the system
and it usually requires that you travel for three weeks at a time on 24
hours notice. Before you can apply to join the system, you first need
to volunteer locally.
Q. I would like to donate my used goods to help
disaster victims, where do I bring them?
A. The Red Cross does
not accept individual donations of material items (called "in-kind"
donations) because receipt of such items can actually hamper relief
efforts. The financial and personnel cost of receiving, sorting,
transporting goods and ensuring the quality and cleanliness of items
donated by individual households is very high. It does not allow for
individuals and families to receive what they uniquely need in their own
size and shape.
The traditional method of
providing Red Cross assistance is with a voucher, redeemable at local
stores and paid for with donation dollars, that enables victims to
purchase what they need in the correct sizes and in accordance with
their own taste. Making even these small decisions helps individuals
begin to take control of their lives and their recovery. In addition,
this process helps channel money into the local economy and thus aids
the community in recovery from disaster. The Red Cross does accept large
corporate donations of food, bottled water and other items needed by the
disaster-affected communities.
Q. Is the American Red Cross part of the United
States government?
A. The American Red
Cross functions independently of the government but works closely with
government agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), during times of
major crises. It is responsible for giving aid to members of the U.S.
Armed Forces and to disaster victims at home and abroad. It does this
through services that are consistent with its Congressional Charter and
the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement allowing the Red Cross to stay neutral and impartial.
Q.
What is the role of Red Cross workers with the military in time of
conflict?
A. The Red Cross
mission is to keep the American people in touch with their family
members serving in the armed forces. To accomplish this work, Red Cross
workers frequently deploy on assignment with military forces to keep the
communication link operational around the clock and around the globe.
Other Red Cross services are made available to military personnel on an
as needed basis just as they are in the civilian communities.
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