The Red Cross needs your pocket change!

Drewcifer · Post by **Drewcifer** » 2003-09-16 05:52am

The Red Cross needs money! I know, so does everyone these days, but these guys fed me for a few days after a tornado ripped through my neighborhood several years ago. I like to toot the horn for them and donate $$$ when I can.

Even the spare change in your pocket can make a difference (see * below).

Red Cross pleads for donations as hurricane approaches
Monday, September 15, 2003 Posted: 9:56 PM EDT (0156 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- As a massive hurricane bears down on the East Coast, the Red Cross is issuing an emergency plea for donations.

Hurricane Isabel could come ashore Thursday somewhere between South Carolina and New Jersey with the Outer Banks of North Carolina near the middle of the expected track.

The Red Cross provides shelter, food and other aid after disasters, but the agency reports that its Disaster Relief Fund is nearly empty.

Alan McCurry, chief operating officer for the Red Cross, said the balance in the Disaster Relief Fund fluctuates as money comes in and is spent, but "if you're driving down the road and the gas gauge is bouncing off zero, then it's time to get some gas."

McCurry said the Red Cross likes a balance of $50 million in the relief fund. He declined to specify the current balance.

Donations have been down sharply, the Red Cross reports, a situation it blames on various factors including the rough economy. From July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003, the Red Cross spent $114.3 million but took in only $39.5 million.

Donations can be made by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW, via the Internet at http://www.redcross.org , at Coinstar machines*, at local Red Cross offices or by sending checks to the American Red Cross, P O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013.

source

*Donate Now to the American Red Cross at Coinstar machines

Just by bringing your spare change to the grocery store, you can help the American Red Cross bring relief to disaster victims in your area and across the country.

If half of those American living within 2 miles of a Coinstar machine donated just $1 in spare change to the Red Cross, it would raise more than $65 million to support American Red Cross lifesaving services in communities nationwide!

Find the Coinstar machine nearest you. (Please note that some Coinstar machines are not yet equipped with the donation option. To confirm that your grocery store can accept donations to the American Red Cross, please call 1-800-928-CASH.)

http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-09-16 05:59am

Actually I usually donate my pocket change to the Red Cross or the American Heart Association through one of those change machines (the coinstar ones you mentioned) they have at some supermarkets. You can get a credit slip that's good in the store or you can donate the money and that's what I do.

I haven't done it for awhile and my change, especially the pennies, has been building up so I'll need to remember to drop it off.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-09-17 11:29am

Donated $2.81 in pocket change to the Red Cross this morning.

If I'd been thinking I would have taken in all the change in my ashtray. The thing is nearly so full that I can't close it.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-09-17 11:33am

Whatever charity is on the store counter gets my pennies, nickels, and dimes.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » 2003-09-17 11:35am

You can donate to the red cross through the coinstar machines? Huh, learn something new every day. I'll have to do that the next time I go shopping.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-09-17 11:45am

Hotfoot wrote:You can donate to the red cross through the coinstar machines? Huh, learn something new every day. I'll have to do that the next time I go shopping.

They also have the WWF and a couple other charities as choices. The last time I had donated it was only the Red Cross and one other. I usually go with the Red Cross because they are more diversified in what they do.

Death from the Sea · Post by **Death from the Sea** » 2003-09-17 01:25pm

I donate my precious O Negative blood to the Red Cross every 60 days.
They tell me I do not carry a virus that more than 85% of the population has and that allows them to quarter up my blood and give it to premature babies.

Typhonis 1 · Post by **Typhonis 1** » 2003-09-17 01:49pm

I already do donte to the Red Cross through my United Way donation