Red Cross honors volunteers, gears up for Amplify Austin
In combination with Red Cross Month, our local chapter, serving Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Milam, Travis, and Williamson counties, is hoping to raise funds during Amplify Austin. This area-wide fundraiser for local non-profits kicks off March 5 at 6 p.m. and continues until March 6th.
Below is a transcript of Meteorologist Kristen Currie's discussion with Marty Mckellips, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross serving Central and South Texas Region.
Read below:
Kristen Currie, KXAN: As we head into March, it's a big month for the American Red Cross. Joining me today to talk more about that, is Marty Mckellips with the American Red Cross here in Central Texas. Marty, Red Cross Month. Tell me more about it.
Marty Mckellips, American Red Cross: Yeah, it's really exciting. Every year, the President of the United States declares March as 'Red Cross Month' to honor all the service our volunteers provide across the country. We try to have a lot of celebrations during that time, because our volunteers are really amazing, and it lines up nicely with Amplify Austin, which is coming up in the first week of March.
Currie: So tell me first what Amplify Austin is and how it benefits you guys with Red Cross?
Mckellips: So Amplify Austin is an amazing thing that happens. This year, it runs from March 5th through the 6th. They have a website where everyone can go in and donate to their favorite nonprofits and local non-profits. They've raised about $112 million since 2013 for all the wonderful nonprofits that work across the Central Texas area.
Currie: How does the American Red Cross, specifically here in Central Texas, use that money?
Mckellips: Everybody sort of knows about the big disasters, the fires and floods and all that, but here in Central Texas, we respond to every home fire. So if your home burns down in the middle of the night and it's freezing cold and you're on the street with no shoes, all you have to do is call 1-800-Red Cross and amazing volunteers will show up and make sure you have clothes and food and a place to stay and mental health support and replace prescriptions. Sort of get you on that first step toward your recovery.
Currie: With Amplify Austin, we're looking for those dollars to stay here locally. Again, remind us when those dates are and if there are any opportunities to get involved and volunteer with y'all.
Mckellips: It begins March 5 at 6 p.m. and ends March 6 at 6 p.m. And yes, we're always looking for volunteers. At this time of year, we're preparing for hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, so our plan is to recruit as many people as we can and get them trained, so when that season starts, they're ready to go. All you have to do is go to www.RedCross.org, put in your zip code and find out where you can get trained. You can be as little involved or as most involved as you want to be as a volunteer.
Currie: Marty, thank you so much for joining us today, talking about the American Red Cross and Amplify Austin.
For more information on the American Red Cross serving Central Texas, click here.
To donate to Amplify Austin, click here.
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