CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
P R O C L A M A T I O N
Declaring March 2022 as Red Cross Month
WHEREAS, Red Cross Month is a special time to honor the kindness of volunteers and neighbors who aid families in need every day in Richmond, across the United States , and around the world, and whose dedication touches millions of lives each year as they carry out the 140-year mission of the American Red Cross and its founder, Clara Burton; and
WHEREAS, despite challenges presented by COVID -19, people stepped up to help others in need, whether by r esponding to record -breaking wildfires , horrific tornadoes, and extreme winter storm cold waves and summer heat waves across the country or rolling up their sleeves to give blood when our country faced a severe blood shortage; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, national Red Cross volunteers deployed 552 times and dedicated 61,930 volunteers hours to a ssist neighbors during 41 disaster relief operations of all sizes, including wildfires in Oregon and California and Hurricane Ida that made landfall in Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, Contra Costa County residents held 788 blood drives and donated 17,277 units of blood, 8,486 residents took classes to learn life -saving skills, 910 military members and their families as well as 518 families affected by 130 home fires received support and services, and 108 households adopted fire evacuation plans through the Sound the Alarm program; and
WHEREAS, in times of crisis, community members in Richmond come together to care for one another, demonstrating the humanitarian spirit that is exemplified by Amer ican Red Cross volunteers and donors who work to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Richmond City Council do es hereby declare March 202 2 as Red Cross Month in the City of Richmond and encourage s all community members to advance the noble legacy of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, who lived by her words: “You must never think of anything except the need, and how to meet it.”
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Mayor Tom Butt
City of Richmond, California
March 1, 2022