FEBRUARY 2015 RED CROSS PROGRAM

At our February 10, 2015, regular meeting, Lion Roland Caruso introduced Katie Borgman, Volunteer Services of American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois. The Freeport Chapter office, located at 224 W Galena Avenue, celebrates 100 years in 2015. Rockford IL Chapter, located at 727 N. Church St, just celebrated 100 years 2014. Katie became a part of the Northwest Illinois Chapter on November 12, 2013.

The American Red Cross of Northwest Illinois has over 400 volunteers and is a non-profit 501 (3) (c) organization. They serve ten counties and a population of over 800,000 people in northwestern Illinois. Their mission is "To alleviate human suffering in the face of an emergency." They focus on five areas: 1) Blood Services, 2) Disaster Cycle Services, 3) Preparedness Health & Safety Services, 4) Armed Forces, and 5) International Services.

Examples of local disasters are home fires and flooding. The Freeport Lions Club worked closely with the local office several years ago to distribute money from the Lions Disaster Fund to some of the neediest local families that the Freeport Chapter helped identify.

The Red Cross was founded May 2l,1881, by Clarissa (Clara) Harlowe Barton with idea that most work would be done by volunteers. Clara Barton was a recording clerk at the U.S. Patent Office in Washington D.C. when the Civil War brought her close to caring for wounded soldiers. Twenty years and three U.S. presidents later, the Red Cross flag flew officially for the first time in this country when Barton issued a public appeal for funds and clothing to aid victims of a devastating forest fire in Michigan. http://www.redcross.org/about-us/history/clara-barton. Today the Red Cross is a global organization.

Ms. Borgman brought some small door prizes, and some winning members were: Lions Liz Boyer, Rick Eastman, Rebecca Shriver, Brian Burke and Bert Kersten.

photo compliments of Liz Boyer

1st Vice President, Bert Kersten, thanked Katie for her time, commitment and excellent program, and presented her with a club pen as a token of our gratitude. Thank you, Lion Roland Caruso, for arranging this program.
******************************

Find us and share our stories Online:
http://freeportlionsclub.blogspot.com or www.facebook.com/FREEPORTLIONS