CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE


                              PROCLAMATION
          AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH - MARCH 2023
WHEREAS during American Red Cross Month in March, we celebrate the humanitarian spirit of
the city of Charlottesville and reaffirm our commitment to help ensure that no one faces a crisis
alone; and

WHEREAS caring for one another is at the heart of our community and exemplified by the people
of city of Charlottesville, whose simple acts of kindness through the Red Cross provide help and
hope in people’s most difficult moments - continuing the lifesaving legacy of Clara Barton, who
founded the organization more than 140 years ago to prevent and alleviate human suffering; and

WHEREAS the Virginia Region serves people facing emergencies every day, embracing that the
diversity of staff, volunteers, and the people served is vital to this work; and

WHEREAS every day, these ordinary individuals lend a helping hand to make an extraordinary
difference for neighbors in need - whether providing emergency shelter, food and comfort for
families displaced by home fires and other disasters; donating lifesaving blood for cancer patients,
accident victims, and people with sickle cell disease and other life-threatening conditions; supporting
military members and veterans, along with their families and caregivers, through the unique
challenges of service; using vital skills like First Aid and CPR to help others survive medical
emergencies; or delivering international humanitarian aid and reconnecting loved ones separated by
crises around the world; and

WHEREAS powered by 250 dedicated volunteers and generous donors over the past six months
the Central Virginia Chapter has:

• Helped 70 households affected by 54 disasters, including storms, floods and home fires;
• Collected more than 9,200 units of lifesaving blood from volunteer donors;
• Trained 4,740 people in First Aid, CPR & AED, water safety, babysitting and other lifesaving
  skills; and
• Provided 346 critical community services to members of the military, veterans and their families;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Charlottesville City Council hereby proclaims March 2023 as Red
Cross Month and we encourage all residents of the City of Charlottesville to honor Clara Barton’s
noble words, “You must never think of anything except the need and how to meet it,” and we ask
everyone to join in this commitment.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of March 2023.


___________________________
J. Lloyd Snook, III, Mayor


Attest:

___________________________
Kyna Thomas, Clerk of Council