Red Cross serves seven East Texas counties

Paula Prince (left) and Ann Brooks with the American Red Cross spoke with the Kilgore Lions on Thursday. The American Red Cross wants people to know the organization is not just about blood or national disasters.

Ann Brooks, director for the Longview East Texas Piney Woods Chapter of the American Red Cross, came to the Kilgore Lions Club on Thursday to speak about what occurs day to day at the Red Cross.

Brooks said the local Red Cross services seven counties: Gregg, Upshur, Harrison, Rusk, Shelby, Panola and Camp.

"We get no government funding," said Brooks. "We rely on donations to keep our office going."

The Red Cross nationally had 74,000 disasters last year and 93 percent of those were fires, said Brooks.

"In Gregg and Rusk counties, 55 percent of what we do is fire related," said Brooks "Out of those fires, the number one reason for the fire is a cooking accident."

In 2008 and 2009, Gregg County had 85 family home fires and Rusk County had 27.

"Usually when a family comes to us after a fire it is with just the clothes on their backs," said Brooks. "We help them get clothing, and arrange shelter and food."

She said the Red Cross wants to help the families get back to their normal daily activities as soon as possible.

Brooks said the Red Cross also helps with emergency communications between Americans and the Armed Forces.

"This can be responding to deaths, family illness or births," said Brooks.

Paula Prince, director of resource development and public relations, talked about an upcoming fundraiser for the Red Cross, the Sporting Clay Classic in Gladewater on Oct. 2.

"All funds raised at this and any other fundraiser for our office stay right here in East Texas," said Prince.

Brooks stressed since most of the disasters her office deal with are fires, families should have an escape plan in place and make sure smoke alarms are in good working order. For more information on creating home fire escape plans, Brooks recommends visiting www.redcross.org/homefires.

The local Red Cross also provides CPR training and baby-sitter training.

When the Red Cross assists a family, it is with money to buy new clothes, food and lodging as well as other necessities, said Brooks.

"So when the Red Cross assists, that money goes back into the local economy," said Brooks.

The East Texas Piney Woods Chapter is located 1604 Hwy. 31 in Longview.

"Our office does not close at 4:30 p.m. — there is someone on call 24/7, so if you need assistance call 903-753- 2091," said Brooks.