Friday, November 25, 2011 — The holiday season is still a few days away and already people are getting bogged down with stuff – stuff to buy, stuff to bake, stuff to wrap. This year the American Red Cross is urging everyone to take time during all the hustle and bustle to remember those in need by giving something that means something.

Shoppers can browse the Red Cross 2011 Holiday Giving Catalog and choose from a variety of symbolic gifts that include helping to vaccinate an entire village against measles, providing food and shelter to a victim of disaster or buying phone cards for members of the armed forces.

“We hope Americans will use the catalog as an opportunity to give something that means something and help those in need,” said Gail McGovern, Red Cross President and Chief Executive Officer. “It’s been a challenging year. The holidays remind us of what’s really important, and a gift to the Red Cross will allow us to continue to help people during some of the most difficult times of their lives.”

 

 

Purchases can be made in honor of those on your gift list and come with greeting cards to let the person know they’ve been remembered with a gift to the Red Cross. Each gift item purchase is a tax-deductible donation that helps support the Red Cross mission to provide relief to those in need and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Some of the more popular items include blankets for a disaster victim, kits for wounded service members filled with things like a robe, shower shoes, toiletries and a phone card, vaccinations that help save lives around the world and sponsorship of a Red Cross disaster vehicle.

This year, the Catalog features a number of new selections. For instance, shoppers can select a blanket and movie for a platelet blood donor, hygiene kits for homeless veterans, swimming lessons for kids or emergency radios for schools.

Free Red Cross vintage water bottles will go to anyone giving a minimum of $100. Those giving a minimum of $200 will receive a vintage messenger bag, and for a minimum of $300, people will receive a Red Cross family first aid kit.

The fiscal year of 2011 was busy for the Red Cross. One emergency after another kept Disaster Services on the go. Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces workers provided assistance to more than 386,000 members of the military and their families, veterans and civilians. Red Cross Blood Services distributed more than nine million blood products for patients in nearly 3,000 hospitals across the United States. The Red Cross enrolled more than 8.2 million people in health and safety training such as first aid and CPR, aquatics and water safety. And the American Red Cross responded to disasters and public health emergencies in more than 60 countries as part of the global Red Cross network.

Gifts purchased through the Red Cross 2011 Holiday Giving Catalog are tax-deductible contributions to the overall Red Cross mission. Items are symbolic of the work of the Red Cross, not a donation to a specific project or item.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog athttp://blog.redcross.org.