AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS TO EXPAND MILITARY SERVICES

The American Red Cross of Central Texas has received a federal grant of $79,000 for the purpose of expanding Red Cross services for military families and veterans. This funding allows the Chapter to provide more community support for military members and their families before, during and after deployment.

The Red Cross will offer regular Military Family Networking Groups, these are gatherings where the family members can hear guest speakers, participate in family activities, record family video and then send the video to their deployed family member, receive other agency referrals, receive child ID kits, register for scholarships to attend CPR and First Aid classes or Babysitting Bootcamps and receive school supplies.

All services are provided free of charge to any current, retired or veteran military personnel and their families. The United States Congress actually mandates that the American Red Cross provide services to the military, however they do not allocate funding for this service.

In addition, the American Red Cross of Central Texas will be hiring a Service to Armed Forces Program Manager to facilitate the expanded services.

The Chapter currently assists 5 to 6 military families a day in Central Texas.   With the additional funding the Red Cross expects to see an increase in the number of families serviced.