Dear Citizens of Fairfield County,

I serve on the American Red Cross Advisory Council in Fairfield County. As chairman of the Heroes Campaign, I am sending this letter to let you know how valuable the American Red Cross is to our county and to ask for your help.

Let me tell you a little about how the American Red Cross (ARC) helps us in Fairfield County.

For the 2011-2012 year – 86 people were affected by a crisis/need in Fairfield County at a cost of over $18,000. Some of those affected may have been someone you know.

A local Red Cross disaster volunteer responded to 24 home fires in Fairfield County and provided emergency assistance in the form of lodging, food, clothing, toiletries, life-sustaining medications and other immediate needs.

Disasters can affect anyone, and the Red Cross is there to help when disasters strike.

Red Cross is NOT a government agency. It depends 100% on donations from people like you.

91 cents of every dollar donated to the American Red Cross is invested in humanitarian services in Fairfield County as well as across the nation.

(Many of you contributed last year to the Heroes Campaign and I hope we can count on you again.)

While contributions are so very important, there are other ways that you can help as well.

Donate blood at one of the Red Cross Blood Drives. The next drive will be held at First United Methodist Church on Congress Street on March 12 from 2 p.m.-7 p.m. Call 635-4087 for a sign-up time or just walk in.

Participate in the ARC Spaghetti Lunch/Dinner fundraiser to be held on Thursday, March 14th from 11 AM to 7 PM (delivery available during lunch hours for five or more meals) at First Church of The Nazarene, 650 9th Street, Winnsboro. Tickets are $7.00 and can be purchased from any Board Member, 1st Citizen’s Drive-through, or at the door. Desserts available for $1.

Ask your church to donate a minimum of $1 per member to the Red Cross during March which is American Red Cross Month. Each church in the county was sent a letter in January asking for support. (Only 11 of the 125 churches responded last year.) We send money to foreign missions but this is a mission project that is close to home. Please ask your pastor if he/she will support the need.

And finally, make a personal monetary donation to the Heroes Campaign. Checks should be made payable to “Fairfield County ARC” and sent to PO Box 413, Winnsboro, SC 29180.

I am sure that you are just like me – bombarded with requests for donations and committed to many worthy causes. Thank you for taking time to read and consider this request. We will appreciate anything that you can do to help the American Red Cross in Fairfield County.

Sincerely,

Barbara Martin

Chairman of the ARC Heroes Campaign