Monroe County Chapter’s 2008 Heroes campaign was launched in Bloomington, Indiana, on March 4th with a kick-off breakfast at the Radisson Hotels & Resorts. A full-page Heroes ad featuring all those who pledged to raise or give $1,000 was in the local newspaper the morning of the breakfast. Campaign chair and Red Cross Chapter Board member Jeremiah Young, owner of Nature’s Way, Inc. shared his personal story about the American Red Cross. Jeremiah cited an experience he had with an employee whose family home burned to the ground who was helped by our chapter disaster volunteers, who she called “angels.” Said Jeremiah, “This is about people helping people,” urging everyone to get involved with the Chapter staff and volunteers who help people when they are at their worst moments in life.

This year’s Heroes campaign was only the second one conducted by the Monroe County Red Cross Chapter, but several unique and creative ideas were launched to make the campaign outstanding. A Heroes blog was created http://redcrossheroes.blogspot.com/ that was updated every day with the total receipts and also announcements about special Heroes events that supporters could attend or participate in. The blog included links to the chapter website as well as to one individual Hero’s website who was raising funds online using “ChipIn,” a free software program. One of our Heroes had a plant sale at his landscape business which resulted in $4,000 being raised in a single day. A firefighter boot drive was held in a small town that raised $3,781 at two intersections. Six different volunteer firefighter companies participated in the boot drive. For the first time we had three middle schools and one high school participate by conducting Heroes campaigns. One middle school raised $1,200 in their coin drive! Chapter executive Sue Gulley stated, "From our first campaign to our second, the most astounding change was the growth in grass roots fund raising. The first year we raised $28,900, and the second year we raised $70,000, largely due to individuals rolling up their sleeves and raising more than their $1,000 goal.”

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

►Owen County Volunteer Firefighters to Conduct Boot Drive for Red Cross on April 5th

The Owen County Volunteer Firefighters will be holding a boot drive on Saturday, April 5 from 8 am – 2 pm at two major intersections in Spencer. All monies collected will benefit the disaster response, service to the military, and emergency preparedness services of the American Red Cross in Monroe and Owen Counties. The Red Cross is proud to call the Owen County Volunteer Firefighters “Heroes for the American Red Cross.”

►Book Sale at Jazzercise in Ellettsville on April 5th

Kris Heeter at Jazzercise will be conducting a Spring book sale at her Ellettsville location at the corner of Smith Pike and 46 Bypass West, from 11 am – 5 pm, to raise funds for her Heroes for the American Red Cross campaign. Stop by and browse to pick up your summer reading material!