Gordon County residents and local businesses have volunteered to be Heroes for the local Red Cross, committed to raising $1000 each for local disaster relief.
The Red Cross Heroes campaign is a “grass roots campaign,” and all funds raised are ear marked for Gordon County disaster relief, according to Executive Director Jeffrey Putnam.
“Gordon County, over the past six or seven years has seen a dramatic increase in disaster causes, which are primarily house fires, and this helps fund that,” said Putnam. “The Red Cross is totally donation driven, every dime we spend we have to raise and this is one way of raising the funds to help cover the disaster calls we respond to in Gordon County. It also helps with safety training, and, helps fund the location we have there. The funds are earmarked fro Gordon County, and they help us pay for the services that we provide in Gordon County.”
According to a press release from the American Red Cross of Northwest Georgia, the corporate sponsors for the Gordon County Heroes for American Red Cross is Midland Communications and Nance Carpets, who have already donated $1,000 each to kick off the campaign.
Other individuals in Gordon County who have volunteered to serve as Heroes are Brian Brannen, Clerk of Superior Court, Bruce Bowman of Fox Systems, Bud Owens of Floyd Medical Center, Carol Nance of Nance Carpets, Daniel Hebard of Gordon Hospital, David Repp of Mohawk Industries, Karla Martin of Painted Post, Kent Chapman of State Farm and Toby Holland of Executive Park Tires.
Each of these businesses has set a goal to raise $1,000 from customers, employees or community fundraisers. The idea of the campaign is to create an atmosphere of neighbor’s giving to their neighbors.
“The premise of the Heroes campaign is that they donate to their neighbors, and we have tried to recruit volunteers within a wide range throughout the county,” said Putnam. “People that other people will know who they are and reach out to them and donate.”
The event kicked off March 28 and though the program has not happened in Gordon County since 2006, several volunteers have previous experience as Heroes with the program.
“I have always been an avid supporter of the Red Cross and I have served before. I was approached by Jeff Putnam and didn’t hesitate,” said Brian Brannon, Clerk of Superior Court. “With recent devastation with storms, loss of life, displaced families and homes, the Red Cross plays a vital part. They are on the ground at that moment assisting people with supplies and shelter. I am honored to serve as a Hero in their campaign. We will be going around seeing different people to donate. Gordon County has always been willing to donate and Gordon County has always been generous in helping people in these hard times,” he said.
Bud Owens shares the same sentiments and has also served as a Hero before.
“I have actually been involved in volunteering with the American Red Cross for about 28 years…I have served as a Hero a couple of times before. I have served on the board and I have served as the chairman of the board in Calhoun,” said Owens. “I believe in the program that the American Red Cross offers, specifically the disaster relief. The example would be the tornadoes in Gordon County. I have also witnessed work in Floyd County with tornados that hit here. It’s an expectation that the public has that the Red Cross will be there,” he said.
The Heroes campaign will conclude April 26 at Trinity Baptist Church where the American Red Cross of Northwest Georgia will host a Heroes breakfast to recognize the Hero volunteers and the money they helped raise for disaster relief.
Putnam will invite local public safety agencies for recognition as well.
“We will invite officials from all the public safety agencies within in the county and recognize them as partners in the community with Red Cross, because without them we wouldn’t have a job to go to. They’re the ones that call us and they’re the ones that let us know that people need assistance. They are community partners and we want to recognize them as well,” said Putnam.
The American Red Cross recently provided assistance to a family involved in an apartment fire on Forest Heights Drive. Though no one was hurt, the American Red Cross responded with assistance.
“It was on Forest Heights drive and it was a family, husband, wife and a small child. They are being taken care of in the office with any assistance needed,” said Putnam.
The only assistance the family accessed from the Red Cross was funds to help replace clothes lost in the apartment fire. Typically the Red Cross provides food, temporary shelter, emergency medication, and assistance in taking necessary steps on the road to rebuilding physically and emotionally.
To donate or to become a Hero with the American Red Cross of Northwest Georgia, contact any Hero listed above to see how to get involved.
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