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About Us |
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The Mission of the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its congressional charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
- HUMANITY
- IMPARTIALITY
- NEUTRALITY
- INDEPENDENCE
- VOLUNTARY SERVICE
- UNITY
- UNIVERSALITY
Clara Barton, the famous Civil War nurse and advocate for aid to the wounded and victims of natural disasters, founded the American Red Cross in 1881. In 1884 Clara Barton visited Paducah and other area towns as part of the first-ever flood relief operation ever directed by the newly formed American Red Cross Society.
In 1900 the renamed American National Red Cross received a Congressional charter establishing the organization as the nation’s official relief agency for civilians and military personnel and made it accountable to-although not funded by-Congress.
The Paducah chapter was formed in 1917 by A.R. Meyers and W.F. Paxton served as its first board chairman. The McCracken County Chapter raised $42,000 for relief efforts during WWI. During WWII over $164,530 was raised for relief efforts as well as volunteers donating 81,800 hours of service time making bandages, sewing goods and knitting garments.
Throughout the years, the chapter has responded to local floods, fires, tornadoes and ice storms. Local volunteers have also been deployed nationally to Hurricane Katrina, 9/11 in New York, California wildfires, tornadoes in Georgia, and most recently the Indiana, Iowa and Missouri floods.
Being Red Cross ready is not just a slogan but a reality for the Paducah Area Chapter.
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