Local chapter of Red Cross open Saturday, Monday to assist with Haiti relief efforts

From press release

As a result of the outpouring of support from the community regarding the earthquake in Haiti, the Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold special hours over the holiday weekend.

The Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross is at 727 N. Church St., Rockford.

“We are so grateful for the generosity of our neighbors in the Rock River Valley we want to make sure they can lend their help should they choose to do so,” said Dr. Robert Willis, executive director of the local American Red Cross chapter.

The Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, and Monday, Jan. 18.

The American Red Cross is still accepting donations to help with relief operations in Haiti. Jan. 12, a devastating earthquake rocked the island and devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The Red Cross now has dozens of disaster specialists in Haiti, assessing the damage, addressing urgent needs and establishing the foundation for a long-term recovery operation.

What the Red Cross needs the most are financial contributions—whether by check, online or by phone. The Red Cross and the other organizations leading the efforts in Haiti most need financial gifts to best serve the victims. Things like clothes are not helpful right now because there is nowhere to store them, no one to sort them, and it would be difficult to transport the items to Haiti.

The more than 97 million Red Cross volunteers worldwide—and hundreds of local responders from Haiti—give the Red Cross the expertise, scale and scope to manage catastrophic disasters from the moment they strike.

Contact the Rock River Chapter of the American Red Cross at (815) 963-8471.