Blood, Donations to Red Cross Will Help Missouri, Others

As victims of the latest deadly tornado that hit Missouri Sunday night struggle to recover their belongings and find their loved ones, the American Red Cross is accepting donations of blood and funds as they work to help storm-ravaged neighborhoods across the South and Midwest.

The Red Cross opened a shelter in Joplin, MO, Sunday night, while continuing to serve areas hit by tornadoes and/or flooding in the last few weeks in Kentucky, Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and New York.

Mississippi River flooding alone has forced more than 1,000 people to seek refuge in shelters across the South, according to the Red Cross.

The Red Cross estimates that it will spend as much as $31 million responding to the disasters, while preparing to launch another large-scale relief operation to help people along the Mississippi River. To date, about $16 million has been raised in donations.

To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013.

For a complete list of upcoming donation events, visit www.redcross.org.