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Founded on October 15, 1917 the Illinois Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has served as Central Illinois'
most important non-government humanitarian organization and has striven to provide disaster response, relief, and assistance
to victims of natural disasters in Sangamon, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Montgomery, Menard, Coles and Clark counties. In
addition to disaster relief, the Chapter provides disaster education to local communities, armed forced emergency services,
health and safety training, as well as operates a senior meal delivery program.
Led by its 18 member Board of Directors, the Illinois Capital Area Chapter strives to complete its mission of helping
Central Illinois prevent, prepare, and respond to emergencies.
Programs and Services
The first and primarily priority of the Red Cross is disaster relief assistance. In the wake of natural disasters our
primary function is to minimize loss and provide victims with basic necessities including food, clothing, temporary shelter,
first-aid and mental-health counseling. The Red Cross also provides assistance to emergency relief workers and handles inquiries
from concerned family members outside the disaster area.
In addition to disaster services, the Emergency Services program addresses the needs of military family emergencies through
the Chapter's Armed Forces Emergency Services Program (AFES). The Red Cross is chartered by Congress to act as a liaison between
military personnel and their families, but receives no governmental funding for the program. The Armed Forces recognizes the
American Red Cross emergency messages as the verifying source of a crisis within a military member's family. Thus enabling
commanders to make informed decisions regarding emergency leave when a military family faces crises such as death, critical
illness, financial problems or birth. The American Red Cross is the ONLY agency that can provide emergency communications
for military members and their families.
Is well as emergency relief for both civilian and military personnel, the Red Cross also serves as an important source
of community education. To aid local communities and extend of mission of saving lives, the Red Cross offers classes in CPR,
First Aid, Life Guard training, AED (Automated External Defibrillation), HIV/AIDS, and babysitters training.
Mission Statement
As a volunteer led and run humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross strives to provide relief to victims of disaster
and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. It does this through services that are consistent with
its congressional charter and the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement.
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