SE Wisconsin Red Cross $32,000 over budget

MILWAUKEE- The Southeastern Wisconsin chapter of the Red Cross is $32,000 over budget.


They said disaster responses were higher than anticipated for not only December, but also higher for the first six-months of their fiscal year.


The Red Cross  fiscal year starts on July 1 and since that time the Disaster Action Team has responded to 347 disasters, 180 in Milwaukee County alone, having helped 497 families.


The problem now is that the SE Wisconsin chapter is only six months into their budget, with six more months to go, they are entering peak fire season.


Peak fire season is historically their busiest time of the year.


The Red Cross gave a example that in the first seven days of the New Year, they responded to ten separate disasters, including a fire which left a single mother of seven children homeless.


During the Polar Vortex, they also opened a shelter when 39 people, including 13 children, were displaced in the middle of the night.


The Red Cross said they will never stop lending support and providing those in need with emergency resources, but difficult internal decisions must be made from delaying needed maintenance for buildings & vehicles to delaying purchases.


As an added second issue, because of the cold and snow, the Red Cross is also short on blood donations because they had to cancel a number of drives.



Your local American Red Cross is now asking for your help by way of a financial gift. All disaster assistance is free thanks to the generosity of the American people. All donations are tax deductible.  Checks can be mailed to the local office at 2600 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233, you can make a secure online donation at redcross.org/donate, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-236-8680) or make a $10 donation by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999.

 

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