2014 Giving Guide: American Red Cross, Southern Missouri Region

MD:  Roger Huckfeldt, Executive Director /Owner, Palm Medical Solutions, LLC

Board of Directors:
Charley Puls, Regions Bank, Market President - Cape Girardeau;  
Dr. Michael S. Clarke, Orthopedic Surgeon,Clarke Orthopedic Clinic;   
Dr. Ken Coopwood, Sr., VP for Diversity & Inclusion, Missouri State University;   
Ginger Gooch, Partner, Husch Blackwell, LLP;  
John Horton, Owner, Layer 3 Technology;   
Bill Kristek, Community Volunteer,Wickman Gardens;   
Brian McDonough, President & General Manager, KY3;   
David Myers, CPA/Partner, The Whitlock Company;   
Jami Peebles, Executive VP & Regional Manager, Central Trust & Investment Co.;   
Tony Shalloup, Director of BusinessDevelopment, The Whitlock Company;   
Brian Weimer, CEO, A Plus Payroll;  
Carol Ann Haake, Community Volunteer;   
Joel Alexander,  CommunicationsManager, City Utilities;  
Rob Akers, Agent, State Farm Insurance;  
Robert Henley, GM University Plaza Hotel & Convention Center;  
Russ Conroy, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Mercy Hospital;  
Scott Williamson, Pastor, First GeneralBaptist Church - Cape Girardeau;  
Dr. Yung Hwang, Family Practice;  
Ben Stone, Chief Financial Officer, 
DeWitt & Associates, Inc.;  
Marita Thomas, Senior VP, Empire Bank;  
Lindsey Oakley, Sr. Manager, BKD, LLP

Mission Statement:
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Service Area:
The Southern Missouri Region serves with volunteers in 40 counties from offices in Cape Girardeau, Joplin, Lebanon, Nevada, Springfield, and West Plains.

Funding:
The American Red Cross is not a Government agency. As a local chapter we are self sustaining, maintained through local donations of time and money. The majority of our funds come from individual donors and local corporations and foundations. We are proud to be a United Way partner agency.

12-month Goals: 
In the next 12 months we will continue to prepare for and respond to man made and natural disasters. Although hard to predict, we plan to serve more than 200,000 people through emergency services: Including disaster response, disaster preparedness, and military services. 

Annual Events:
In southern Missouri, we are proud to work with sponsors who make it possible to recognize local people who have changed a life, at the annual Everyday Heroes Awards event. Each year, we also hold the State Farm Red Cross Disaster Services Open golf tournament and the Red Cross Run for REDiness & March for Military 5k.

How People & Businesses Can Help:
The American Red Cross is a charitable organization, not a government agency. We depend on volunteers and the generosity of people like you to perform our mission. You can get involved by becoming a donor, sponsoring one of our fundraising events, or by volunteering your time.

Volunteer Opportunities:
From the day to day operations and administration of our offices, to the daily response for people affected by disaster, volunteers are always in need. Ninety-seven percent of the work we do is fulfilled through the power of volunteers. Training is free and the work is life changing.

Testimonial:
During the first quarter of 2014 volunteers from the Southern Missouri Region of the American Red Cross were the key to assisting more than 900 people throughout the region’s 40 counties. Volunteers and staff efforts in dealing with an exceptionally high number of house fires saw more than 300 cases open from January to March. These ranged from single and multi-family house fires to weather-related disaster such as an ice storm and flooding. More than 2,400 active volunteers in the SOMO region gave 14,105 working hours and 23,000 on-call hours during the first quarter. When a Red Cross volunteer responds to a home fire they are prepared to give a credit card, loaded with a donation, customized to provide for the needs of each individual affected. “We were in our nighties and barefoot. The credit card saved us, for we had no shoes or clothes. We are so thankful for you and support from the Red Cross”, said one gentleman of the help he and his wife received after their home burned to the ground. We shared this story on our facebook page and received this comment from a member of our online community. “My family too was blessed by the Red Cross on the night of our house fire…the volunteers that came to us that night were angels!! Even after 2 1/2 years it brings me to tears with a thankful heart for having the Red Cross there as the first step of our healing after the fire.” We are honored to be able to support those who need us, after disasters big and small, with donations of time and money from our community of volunteers and donors. Thank you for your continued support of the Red Cross, we couldn’t do it without you.