American Red Cross Mobilizing Support for Military Families

Worcester, MA March 22, 2003 - American Red Cross, Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) is marshalling resources nationwide and around the world to assist members of the U.S. Military and their families. This is the most extensive American Red Cross support effort for military families since the Persian Gulf crisis.

The Red Cross has served active-duty military personnel and their families for more that a century, and is now also supporting the National Guard and Reserves who are being called to duty and separated from their families.

The Red Cross provides free services, 24 hours a day, including linking military members with their families at home in times of crisis, verifying emergency leave information, securing emergency financial assistance and helping families cope with separation when their loved ones are far from home in defense of our country.

"We have Armed Forces Emergency Services staff on U.S. military installations near Iraq in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Every day, the Red Cross delivers emergency messages to servicemen and women worldwide, and we often arrange emergency travel, enabling military families to be together," said Nicole Valentine, spokesperson for the American Red Cross of Central MA. "The long separations and stressful situations that occur when a service member deploys often place a serious emotional strain on families," Valentine continued. "The Red Cross links military personnel and their families through services which include confidential counseling as well as neutral, impartial assistance when and where needed, particularly during times of crisis at home."

Family members can help the Red Cross by keeping close at hand specific information you will need to quickly contact someone in the military. This includes their full name, social security number, address where they are deployed, home base unit and name and phone number of your local Red Cross chapter.

Military families who are in need of Red Cross services are encouraged to call the 24 hour toll free Armed Forces Emergency Services number (1-888-737-4306) or your local Chapter at (508-756-5711).

In addition to these free services provided by the Red Cross, The American Red Cross is partnering with Prosodie Interactive with a new prepaid phone card program called "Military Connect." This is the only card available that allows one to receive voice mails as well as make calls. These phone cards can be purchased for American military personnel, enabling soldiers to make free calls. The card can be designated for particular military personnel or be donated to non-specified members. The military prepaid calling card, sold in $15, $25 or $50 increments, comes with an option to set up a voice mailbox where messages can be left for the military person who is the recipient of the card.

The voice mail messages can be retrieved by phone or via an e-mail account. "The voice mail feature is a wonderful part of the program," stated Nicole Valentine. "It is often difficult to reach a military person given time zone differences or duty schedules. Just imagine how it will feel for a soldier far away from home to hear a loved one's voice. This program offers as much comfort to the family as it does the soldier."

Cards can be purchased on-line at www.militaryconnect.org or by calling toll free 1-888-682-7020.

Another way people can help is by becoming regular blood donors. Should the need arise, and working together with our partners in the blood banking community, the American Red Cross will help meet the blood needs of all civilians and military personnel. A list of local blood drives can be found on www.redcrossworcester.org.

For more information, please contact Nicole Valentine at (508) 595-3727. Thank you.

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