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Red Cross Recognizes Heroes
May 22, 2009
From staff reports
February 05, 2009 12:17 pm
— The Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross has kicked off their 2009 Heroes Campaign this week with special four County Hero School drives in Jasper, Jones, Smith and Wayne Counties. Heroes is an annual project to raise funds for the local Red Cross Chapter to support local programs only. The rest of the campaign will involve asking local business, industry, community groups, and individuals to “Be A Hero” by raising or contributing $1,000 to the campaign to help meet needs in the Pine Belt.
“Our board has taken on the task of kicking off Heroes with ‘bucket brigades’ in all our schools over the next few weeks,” said Peggy Owens-Mansfield, Executive Director of the Pine Belt Chapter. “What a remarkable plan they have to get local children involved and what a wonderful job of planning and coordination the Board has done. In light of my recent absence due to illness, our local Board has stepped up and kicked off this vital campaign.”
Owens-Mansfield said that Heroes is the largest Chapter campaign that provides funds to keep programs and services at the current level.
“All of the Heroes money stays in our four counties to help our neighbors and friends,” she added. “It makes a lot of difference in the things we can and cannot do each year.
“In the first few days, already Taylorsville Elementary has become our first school Hero by contributing $1,000. Smith County Board members conducted the drive Tuesday and were elated to bring in the first school Hero.”
Other schools in the four counties will be doing drives over the next month, including Jones County Junior College, which will continue its campaign Thursday.
“We hope our Pine Belt communities will follow the lead of the children and get on board to assure the continued financial stability of our local Red Cross,” Owens-Mansfield said.
“The Pine Belt has always answered the call to keep the local Red Cross a part of the community.
“We strive to be there for military families, for fire families, for everyone in times of disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, to provide first aid and CPR training to local businesses and individuals, and to help the elderly with utility bills and food at Christmas,” Owens-Mansfield said. “We strive to help with whatever needs local friends and neighbors may have. We are a part of this community and those in need are our neighbors as well.”
“We are very fortunate to be a member agency of the local United Way who works really hard each year to meet so many needs in our area. We also make every effort to raise funds by various projects and events. Our Heroes and other project money stays here just as your United Way donations does to help local people in time of need.
“My favorite Red Cross poster from the 1970’s simply says, ‘the best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm!’ Heroes gives everyone a chance to be a part of keeping something alive and well in our community every day and every minute of every day that meets the special needs of people. We hope many of you will get on board and be a ‘Hero’ for your local Red Cross.”
For information on how to be a Hero contact the Pine Belt Chapter at 601-426-9071.
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Jones County Junior College student Jim Burris of Mize makes a donation for the American Red Cross’ Heroes campaign at JCJC Wednesday as volunteers Susan B. Vincent, center, and Jo Ann Bush, right, offer thanks. The campaign will continue at JCJC Thursday.
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