Chapter News

February-14-2012

Walk for Warmth

Join us on Saturday, February 18th from 3-5pm for the inaugural "Walk for Warmth". This event will raise funds to help those in financial need in our community heat their homes during

January-24-2012

Red Cross Responds After Tornado in Alabama

For the second time in less than a year, the American Red Cross is opening shelters and mobilizing volunteers and feeding trucks after tornadoes touched down overnight across several states.

January-23-2012

Red Cross Responds to Winter Storms, Flooding and Wildfires

The American Red Cross is helping residents of the Pacific Northwest where heavy snow and flooding are affecting thousands, while also responding to a wildfire near Reno, Nevada, which has prompted th

January-11-2012

Two Year Anniversary of Earthquake in Haiti:

January 2012 marks the two year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. To learn more about the American Red Cross' role in their recovery process, please review our two-year u

Services to Armed Forces

Last Year the Black Hills Area Chapter provided assistance to 164 service men and women in our area by:

Assisting military members and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Connecting loved ones during emergency situations
Providing assistance to bring military members home in times of need
Arranging emergency loans to help military members and their families through an emergency
Teaching "Coping with Deployment" and Health & Safety classes to increase preparedness

As all branches of the service pay increased attention to preparing military members for multiple deployments and coping with the psychological stress of combat; the Red Cross is working to help military families strengthen their resilience to stressors they encounter during their loved one's deployment. The Red Cross believes preparing family members to cope with the stresses and challenges that may arise without the support of their spouse or loved one helps deployed service members focus on their mission.

To meet this objective, the Red Cross developed "Coping with Deployments: Psychological First Aid for Military Families." This course was designed to help military families manage the challenges in their lives while their service member is deployed. It provides useful information on how to build resilience and the ability to respond to the challenges encountered throughout the deployment cycle. It also explains how to provide psychological first aid to others experiencing stressful feelings or events. The training includes an adult section, a section on helping children and a comprehensive overview of resources and referrals.

For additional information or assistance, contact Chris Spanier at (605) 342-4010 or safarc@rushmore.com