Like the American Legion Family, the American Red Cross has a historic, long-standing commitment to our nation’s military servicemembers and their families. The American Red Cross, through its Service to the Armed Forces division, organizes and delivers an impressive array of services and support for the military community. It’s important that American Legion Auxiliary members know about the resources and services that are available to servicemembers and their families through the American Red Cross. Auxiliary members may be in positions to help servicemembers in need by referring them to the American Red Cross. Additionally, Auxiliary units may be able to amplify Red Cross support to a servicemember with an Auxiliary financial supplement or a volunteer-provided support service.
Through American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces’ 1,200 offices around the world, servicemembers and their families are provided with:
- Emergency services that include sending emergency messages to deployed servicemembers; working with military aid societies to provide financial assistance for emergency travel, rent, utilities, medical and funeral costs; and information and referrals for services offered by local partners and military resources.
- Family strength programs that include trainings on coping with deployment and reconnecting with family members.
- Hospital programs that range from rehabilitation and morale programs to providing assistance to wounded warrior units by providing adaptive sports equipment and comfort items.
- A touch of home for those deployed. Offices in places like Afghanistan, Kuwait and Djibouti, offer lounges with televisions and computer stations with internet access and private webcams, refreshments, phone banks, activities and comfort items for hospitalized servicemembers.
How to Coordinate with Service to the Armed Forces:
There are three ways a unit can get involved with Service to the Armed Forces.
- Refer servicemembers with financial assistance needs to the American Red Cross Armed Forces Call Center. In conjunction with the military aid societies, the American Red Cross is able to provide emergency financial assistance for food, shelter and burial assistance, as well as travel expenses when a crisis arises. Auxiliary members may relay requests from servicemembers and their families for emergency financial assistance if your unit is unable to fulfill to the American Red Cross’ Service to the Armed Forces Call Center.
- Auxiliary members should encourage a servicemember or a member of their family to call the Call Center at 1-877-272-7337. This includes members of the National Guard and Reserve that are on continuous active duty for more than 30 days and their families.
- Call Center caseworkers are available 24-hours a day and they will assist in processing qualified requests.
- Supplement American Red Cross Assistance with Auxiliary Support. Local American Red Cross chapters receive calls from veterans, servicemembers and/or their families that are experiencing a financial hardship or are in need of support services. In addition to connecting the servicemember in need to the Armed Forces Call Center (see above), the chapter will also offer referrals to other local organizations to meet needs that the American Red Cross cannot meet directly. Auxiliary units should connect with their local Red Cross chapter to make local introductions and to make their local Red Cross chapter aware of:
- Any funds at the unit or department level to assist veterans, servicemembers and their families in the event of a hardship. This should be an established fund designated for assisting the military community, such as your poppy fund.
- You can let them know about restricted funds that may be available to someone contacting the Red Cross chapter, i.e. if your department has an AEF fund.
- Any support services the unit or a member can provide for a veteran, servicemember and/or their families. These support services may qualify for field or home service hours and can include, but are not limited to, providing transportation, snow removal, landscaping or mowing a yard, assisting with tax preparation, babysitting and grocery shopping.
- Co-host or participate in a Holiday Mail for Heroes event. The American Red Cross organizes a national initiative, Holiday Mail for Heroes, to collect and distribute holiday cards for veterans and servicemembers. American Red Cross volunteers and community members sort these cards and distribute them to military installations, National Guard and Reserve units and veterans. Opportunities for Auxiliary units and members to participate in Holiday Mail for Heroes with their local Red Cross chapter include sponsoring or co-hosting card signing or card sorting parties or providing volunteers at card signing and sorting events. Auxiliary units that wish to participate in a local Holiday Mail for Heroes event should contact their nearest Red Cross chapter and ask to talk to the Holiday Mail for Heroes lead.
How to contact your local American Red Cross center:
- Visit the American Red Cross’ website.
- On the right-hand side, enter your ZIP code in the box under “Find your local Red Cross” and click “GO”.
- This sidebar will be changed to the contact information for your local Red Cross chapter. You can contact them by phone, email or in person.
- Ask to be connected to the individual responsible for managing Service to the Armed Forces programs for their chapter.
Resources
- The American Red Cross website: www.redcross.org
- Holiday Mail for Heroes website: www.redcross.org/holidaymail
