March is American Red Cross Month Joyful226

Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 1881. In 1943 President FDR signed the first proclamation for March as American Red Cross Month and 71 years later it still is. As a nationwide non-profit with a rich history spanning more than 130 years, the Red Cross depends on the generous contributions of time, blood and money from the American public to support its lifesaving services and programs. It began as a war-relief effort when the United States Congress designated the Red Cross to organize a Blood Donor Service. This program ran through 1945 and collected more than 13 million units of lifesaving blood. That is 1 unit per every 10 US citizens. In 1948 The Red Cross began the first nationwide blood program for civilians by opening its first collection center in Rochester, N.Y. Just one short year later, in 1949 there were 31 American Red Cross Regional Blood Centers. Now the Red Cross proves about 40% of the nation’s blood supply Collecting 6 Million units a year. When you give blood, you may save up to 3 lives with Donation.

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Joyful226 Red Cross victorian vintage

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