March has come and gone, and with it another successful month of U-Haul helping do-it-yourself customers meet their spring moving and storage needs.
It also was a noteworthy month for one of U-Haul Company’s charitable partners: the American Red Cross. Red Cross Month, as March is known, gives everyone the chance to recognize, honor and celebrate the everyday heroes who help fulfill the organization’s mission.
March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness for the organization’s humanitarian efforts. This tradition has been carried on by every president for more than 70 years.
“Red Cross Month is that time of year where, as an organization, we reflect on all of the amazing work that Red Cross chapters do throughout the U.S.,” said Michelle Houlihan, Red Cross divisional senior corporate and foundation officer.
A Red Cross volunteer lends a helping hand in a time of need.
“Not only do we provide critical disaster relief, we also provide 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply, as well as assistance to thousands of military service members and their families. We can carry out our lifesaving mission only through the help of thousands of volunteers. This is an important month to reflect on their great work.”
For decades, U-Haul has been helping serve communities across North America in times of need, and has been there to assist the Red Cross when disaster struck. Building on the foundation of a longstanding relationship, U-Haul became an official Red Cross Disaster Responder in 2015.
The partnership allows the Red Cross access to U-Haul Company’s range of resources including equipment, storage and easily reachable U-Haul locations with an infrastructure encompassing 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces.
U-Haul continues to assist the Red Cross whenever emergencies occur, ranging from natural disasters such as fires, flooding, tornadoes and hurricanes to community crises like the Flint water crisis.
In early March, U-Haul stores in Mississippi, Southern Texas, Tennessee and Louisiana began providing trucks to the Red Cross to assist flooded communities. The trucks are being used to distribute cleanup kits and transport food and water.
A convoy of U-Haul trucks assisted the Red Cross in their relief efforts during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
“Each of these states has a declared a Level 4 disaster and without the support of U-Haul, our volunteers would not be able to bring critical materials and supplies to many of those impacted,” Houlihan said.
The partnership also was put to good use when U-Haul trucks and storage facilities were used to assist in disaster relief efforts when wildfires swept through the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.
Beyond the Red Cross, U-Haul Company initiates its own relief efforts when natural disasters strike by offering 30 days of free self-storage to affected residents. This free-storage offer was extended to residents of more than 20 states following disasters in 2015.
U-Haul is among 39 disaster responders for the Red Cross, which shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to disaster victims; supplies about 40 percent of our nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.
You can be an everyday hero for the Red Cross all year long. To learn more about the Red Cross or to make a donation, visit redcross.org.
