FAQ's
Basic Questions About the American Red Cross and the Northern Vermont Chapter
How can I become a volunteer with the Red Cross?
How can I donate to the Red Cross?
Why doesn't the Red Cross accept individual donations of clothing or food?
How can I donate blood?
Why is the Blood Center separate from the Chapter — isn't
it all the same Red
Cross?
Is the American Red Cross a government agency?
What services does the Red Cross provide in a disaster?
Does the American Red Cross charge for disaster relief?
How can I learn more about the history of the American Red Cross?
How can I contact the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross?
Q: How can I become a volunteer with the Red Cross?
A: Take a look at our Volunteer page for ways to
get involved and how to get started.
Q: How can I donate to the Red Cross?
A:
Visit our How You Can Help page to learn about how to donate time, money and
other resources.
Q: Why doesn't the Red Cross accept individual donations of clothing
or food?
A: The Red Cross does not accept individual donations of material items (called "in-kind" donations)
because the financial
and personnel cost of receiving, sorting, transporting goods and ensuring the
quality and cleanliness of items donated by individual households is very high.
The method the Northern Vermont Chapter uses to provide assistance is with
a client assistance card, paid for with donation dollars and used much like
a
debit card at any store of the client's choice. This
enables clients to purchase what they need in the correct sizes and in accordance
with
their own taste. Making even these small decisions helps individuals begin
to take control of their lives and their recovery. In addition, this process
helps channel money into the local economy and thus aids the community in recovery
from disaster. The Red Cross does accept large corporate donations of food,
bottled water and other items needed by the disaster-affected communities.
Q: How can I donate blood?
A: Visit the New England Blood Center online,
or call 802-658-6400 or 1-800-843-3500.
Q: Why is the Blood Center separate from the Chapter — isn't
it all the same Red
Cross?
A: The American Red Cross provides many services under the one name "Red Cross."
At the Northern Vermont Chapter (and some other chapters), the branch that
provides biomedical products and services is governed and operated separately
from the branch that provides disaster relief and health and safety-related
training. It makes further sense to operate the Chapter and the Blood Center
separately because the Blood Center operates regionally, and the
Northern Vermont Chapter
provides
services
only
in Northern
Vermont.
Q: Is the American Red Cross a government agency?
A: The American Red Cross is not a government agency. The Red Cross
functions independently of the government but works closely with government
agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), during times
of major crises. The Red Cross receives its funding through voluntary contributions
of the American public.
The American Red Cross was originally chartered by the US Congress in 1900
to give aid to members of the U.S. Armed
Forces and to disaster victims at home and abroad and to perform all duties
incumbent upon a national society in accordance with the spirit and conditions
of the
Geneva Conventions.
Q: What services does the Red Cross provide in a disaster?
A:
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused
needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter,
food, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs.
In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief is the
assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable
them to resume their normal daily activities independently.
The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned
family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products
to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available
resources. For more information about Disaster Services and current disaster
operations,
please visit our Disaster Services page.
Q: Does the American Red Cross charge for disaster relief?
A:
There is no charge for disaster assistance. All Red Cross Disaster assistance
is
an
outright
gift,
made
possible
by
the
voluntary contributions of the American people.
Q: How can I learn more about the history of the American Red Cross?
A:
Visit the Red Cross Museum for
the history and highlights of the International Red Cross movement and the
founding
of
the
American
Red Cross, or visit our Chapter History page for
important dates and events in your local chapter's
history.
Q: How can I contact the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross?
A: Visit www.redcross.org or call the
main switchboard at National Headquarters at (202)-737-8300.
