The Scoop - February 13, 2017
Posted by Heather Rutz on Feb 14, 2017
Red Cross Chapter celebrates 100 years.
It’s one of the things the American Red Cross is most known for, and Monday the Lima Rotary Club added to it.
Before and after West Central Ohio Chapter Executive Director Derek Stemen spoke, Rotarians gave blood during a Red Cross blood drive at the Civic Center.
Stemen spoke, and Rotary hosted the drive, marking the chapter’s 100th anniversary this year. The chapter covers multiple counties in the western corner of the state and carries out the larger Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generosity of donors.
Today, the Red Cross has five missions: disaster relief; lifesaving blood; service to armed forces; preparedness, health and safety services; and international service. Out of each dollar, 91 cents is returned directly to communities, Stemen said. The national benchmark is 60 cents.
The history of the International Red Cross dates back to a man who would eventually receive the first Nobel Peace Prize, Henry Dunant. In the 1800s, he advocated for humane treatment of wounded in battle by neutral parties. The American Red Cross has its roots in Clara Barton, a nurse who took the same attitude about treatment of wounded soldiers during the Civil War. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881. By 1917, the West Central Ohio Chapter was founded, focused on service to members of the military serving in World War I.
The work is local, and far-reaching: The Red Cross is first in line to help a local family after a house fire, and it’s engaged in dangerous support of Syrian refugees, Stemen said.
“But it’s not the what,” Stemen said. “It’s the why. The human connection.”
In other Rotar business Monday:
The Lima Rotary Foundation presented checks to Allen Lima Youth Leadership and Soldiers of Honor Boxing Gym. Each group was awarded $2,000 in foundation grants.
President Dave Frost reminded the club about the Chipotle fundraiser from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday. Anyone with a flyer or a photo of the flyer will help raise money for Polio Plus. Chipotle will donate 50 percent of proceeds from those with the fliers during that time.
