Red Cross opens new office in Lancaster on Memorial Drive
LANCASTER − American Red Cross of South Central Ohio Executive Director Matthew Riddle said the organization's new building at 828 N. Memorial Drive will allow it to better serve local residents.
"We can have blood drives," he said. "We can have training classes. We can have board meetings. We can have community meetings all under our own roof back here in Lancaster."
Riddle said it's especially important to have a place for blood drives, which he said one donation saves three lives.
"So if someone wants to have a blood drive and have us sponsor it we can do it in-house," he said. "If something were to happen to another blood drive in town it could move here quickly and wouldn't lose the donors. We're able to have our first-aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) class here, too."
The local chapter was previously housed on Wheeling Street, but left there a few years ago. It held an open house for the new office Monday.
Riddle said the Red Cross will also be able to host fire safety classes for children in the new building.
"It's really going to allow us to do everything that we can as we reengage the community," he said. "I'm thrilled to be here. I'm really excited this space will be a catalyst for service and to save lives."
While many people may be most familiar with its blood drives, the Red Cross also does a multitude of other things, including hosting various life-saving classes.
"We do disaster response nationally," Riddle said. "But more importantly, locally we do it. We have a team of volunteers in Lancaster already who go out in the middle of the night. They put that blanket around somebody and make sure they're comfortable and help them through the process."
While volunteers help with local house fires, they are currently in Kentucky helping with the flooding issues in that state. The Red Cross also helps unite military members with their families during emergencies or a death in the family.
"The family contacts the Red Cross and we work with the military to bring them home," Riddle said. "We do a lot of things."
The local chapter currently has about 12 to 15 volunteers and needs more. Those interested in volunteering can visit redcross.org and type in their zip code to see what opportunities are available.
They can also call Riddle at 740-260-5160.
"That's my business line," he said. "That's probably the best way I would say if you're really interested and want to talk to me about opportunities, I would just call. But the internet is a good place to start, too."
The new local office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The chapter covers Fairfield, Pickaway, Athens, Fayette, Clinton, Highland, Adams, Ross, Vinton and Hocking counties.
jbarron@gannett.com
740-681-4340
Twitter: @JeffDBarron
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Red Cross opens new office in Lancaster on Memorial Drive
