American Red Cross Emergency Services are available to all members of the armed services, and to their families. Featuring the latest in computer and telecommunications technology, the American Red Cross Emergency Service Center delivers around-the-clock emergency communication services between U.S. military members and their families. Red Cross "SAF" personnel work in nearly 900 chapters in the United States, on 74 military installations around the world and with our troops in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.  Get an idea of our "Services to the Armed Forces" through the video below:

Some of the assistance we can provide to our military members and their families are:

• Stay in touch with loved ones. Our Red Cross worldwide emergency communications network operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We can help send emergency messages regarding the death or serious illness of a family member, the birth of a child, or other family emergencies.
• Get verification of emergency leave information. The Red Cross can provide the military member and commander officer with fast, reliable information to help make decisions regarding emergency leaves, deferments, compassionate reassignments, and dependency discharges.
• Secure emergency financial assistance. The Red Cross collaborates with the military aid societies in providing financial assistance when an urgent personal or family crisis arises - that is, when you might need financial assistance for emergency travel, burial of a loved one, or urgent health and welfare needs such as food and shelter.

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GETTING ASSISTANCE for Military/Military Families: 
Please contact us at the Henderson County Chapter (828) 693-5605, M-F,  to access our Services to the Armed Forces.
 For emergency or after-hours assistance, call 1-800-696-3873.

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Four packages of "snacks from home" and other care pack supplies were shipped on May 20th to Henderson County's own 163rd Army Support Medical Company (reserve unit based here and recently deployed to Iraq).  Red Cross military services volunteer, and veteran of the 163rd, Timothie Smith is heading up this care package project.  We received an email from First Sergeant Marvin Bennett of the 163 on May 27th stating that the packages had arrived.  Thank you to those of you who supported the project...and thanks to the American Legion-Post 77 for their donation to the shipment.

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On February 9, 2010, we partnered with the local not-for-profit organization, Jessie's Honor, to ship 700 care packages to American military troops serving in Afghanistan.  Read more...