By Lori Ehde
The 37th Annual Rock County Red Arrow drive will start Monday with the theme "Sharing and American Spirit."
The goal for this year's drive, which continues until Oct. 25, is $35,000.
The purpose of Red Arrow is to simplify giving for local residents who would otherwise be solicited by many organizations throughout the year.
Red Arrow collects for 24 causes, allowing givers to contribute to all of them through one lump donation.
One of the local agencies receiving Red Arrow funds is the American Red Cross.
Luverne's Carol Morgan is executive director of the Southwest Minnesota chapter of the American Red Cross, which includes Rock, Nobles, Pipestone and Murray counties.
Morgan said Rock County Red Arrow is one of many sources of revenue that keeps the organization running.
"It is appreciated," she said. "We have some very generous individual donors in Rock County. It all helps provide services we're here to do."
Among the many local causes benefiting from the Red Arrow drive, donors may appreciate knowing what they're getting for a donation to the Red Cross.
"First and foremost, our job is disaster relief and preparedness," Morgan said.
In fiscal year 2002, which ended in July, the Red Cross assisted eight local families who were displaced by fires and 70 individuals who were stranded on Interstate 90 in blizzards.
"When I-90 closes and there's nowhere to go, we feed them and keep them warm, provide air mattresses and basically make sure they have a safe place to stay," Morgan said.
"Whether it's a fire, flood, tornado or whatever Ñ we make sure their immediate needs are met."
In the line of disaster relief and preparedness, Morgan said sheÕs also in charge of community disaster education.
"We need to work more on that," she said, "and, of course, now we're working on preparing communities for bioterrorism and, God forbid, weapons of mass destruction."
In addition to disaster assistance the American Red Cross has a congressional mandate to provide blood and blood products nationwide, whenever and wherever it's needed.
She said the Sioux Valley Community Blood Bank is filling an important need locally, but Sioux Valley still needs to buy from the Red Cross to keep up with demand.
"It's not important who you give blood to; just give," Morgan said.
Other services the Red Cross provides include:
Emergency military messaging: The Red Cross can get a message to those in active duty for instances such as a death in the family. Thirteen such messages were delivered in the past year.
International services: For example, the Red Cross recently delivered a message to a woman in Worthington from a refugee camp in Ethiopia.
Health and safety education. For example, certified Red Cross instructors taught swimming lessons to 2,161 kids in three counties in the past year, and gave 1,444 people CPR training.
Morgan said she's enjoyed working with volunteer youth, such as Peer Helpers and 4-H on various fund-raisers, but more volunteers are always needed.
Morgan can be reached at 372-4702.
How to give to Rock County Red Arrow:
Luverne High School Peer Helpers will deliver packets of brochures and pledge cards to businesses, and they'll pick up employee donations at pre-arranged later dates.
That will coincide with a blanket mailing to all Rock County homes, which is in lieu of door-to-door solicitations this year.
"We thought this would be a convenient way for people to give," said Sara Van Nieuwenhuizen, who co-chairs Red Arrow fund-raising this year with Brian Wohnoutka.
"When we go door-to-door, how many do we catch? Some people donÕt like it when someone comes to the door, so we thought this year we'd give this a try."
Red Arrow solicitations will be mailed today.
In addition, Red Arrow drop boxes are located at all the Rock County banks and at Jubilee Foods and Glen's Food Center.
Last year's goal was also $35,000, but donations brought in a whopping $59,000. The Red Arrow Board then agreed to give an additional $3,000 each to Habitat for Humanity, Hospice, DAC, Rock County Family Coordinating Council, RSVP and the Southwest Crisis Center.