Mayor's Column
Mayor Michael R. Mignogna
At our March 8 meeting, the Voorhees Township Committee declared March
as American Red Cross Month.
The American Red Cross fulfills a unique and vital role in our state,
our county and here in Voorhees Township, providing help and hope in
the face of emergencies and disaster.
For nearly 100 years, Presidents have called on the American people to
support the Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. In World War I,
President Woodrow Wilson ordered the Red Cross to raise funds to
support emergency aid to the military, as mandated by the Red Cross
Congressional Charter. At that time, the American Red Cross set a goal
of $125 million and in less than six weeks, donations totaled nearly
$146 million.
In 1943, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt became
the first President to proclaim March as Red Cross Month and called on
Americans to "rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and
activities of the Red Cross." President Roosevelt's call to
action nearly 70 years ago started a tradition of designating March as
Red Cross Month, a time to recognize and support the valuable work of
the American Red Cross by making a financial contribution, donating
blood, taking a life-saving class, or volunteering to help the Red
Cross perform its mission.
Every day, through its volunteers and staff here in Camden County, the
American Red Cross is there to save the day when disaster strikes or
when a neighbor's house burns down. We recently experienced such
an event on January 4 of this year when a large fire left many persons
homeless at the Echelon Glen Apartments. Camden County Red Cross
volunteers were there to help with food, clothing and temporary
shelter, working along with the community to help meet needs.
The Red Cross is there when someone needs life-saving blood.
The Red Cross also plays a unique role in connecting military families
with their loved ones in the armed services, and provides training in
CPR, aquatics safety and first aid. It spreads humanitarian aid and
good will to people around the world, as we are witnessing in Haiti
after the earthquake. Our communities depend on the American Red Cross
and, because it is not a government agency, the Red Cross depends on
support from the public to continue its humanitarian work.
For more information about the Camden County Chapter of the American
Red Cross or to make a donation, call 856-365-7100 or visit
www.camdenredcross.org.
On behalf of the Township of Voorhees, thank you to the American Red
Cross for its humanitarian efforts.
**The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation will host its 6th Annual Wine
Tasting on Thursday, March 11, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Barry D.
Brown Health Education Center on the Virtua Campus located at 106
Carnie Blvd. in Voorhees. Guests can sample over 250 wines, lagers and
ales from around the world, accompanied by gourmet delicacies. The
Foundation creates Teen Centers in pediatric hospitals for teens with
life-threatening illnesses. Tickets can be obtained by calling
856-784-0615 or by e-mail at info@aruf.org.