This is part of a series of stories featuring local organizations that received Bluffton, Beaverdam, United Way funding.

Funds received from the United Way of Bluffton, Beaverdam and Richland Township allow the American Red Cross/Allen County Chapter to respond to everyday emergencies and provide vital and needed services in the community.

The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood, plasma and tissue products in the United States. Someone needs blood every two seconds. You helped meet that need if you were one of the hundreds of people in Bluffton, Beaverdam or Richland Township who donated last year.

What do you do if you have a loved one in the military and an emergency happens at home? The American Red Cross is available 24 hours a day; seven days a week to help you and your service member handle the emergency. Just call the Red Cross, staff is available to help you day or night.

If there is a home fire in Bluffton, Beaverdam or Richland Township, the American Red Cross is notified and the Disaster Action Team is on their way to help the fire victims with food, clothing and a place to stay. The Red Cross can also help with problems such as loss of glasses, medications, etc. due to fire damage.

The Red Cross also provides education on how to prevent and survive disasters. Do you know what to do during a tornado, fire, winter storm or flood? Call the Red Cross and we will send someone to speak to your group.

Do you know what to do if someone is choking, or a loved one has a heart attack? The Red Cross teaches life-saving health and safety skills. Last year hundreds of people in the Bluffton area attended classes in First Aid, CPR, AED, water safety and infectious disease prevention. Trained certified American Red Cross instructors taught many classes in business, factories, and schools.

The American Red Cross is not a government agency. The programs and services are made possible through the financial support of the community and the United Way.