Area Red Cross changes name, expands territory

Published 1:55 am Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Red Cross’ Coosa Valley Chapter will be renamed the Northwest Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross as of July 1, and the organization is transferring responsibility for Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties from the Greater Chattanooga Area Chapter to the Northwest Georgia Chapter.

The realignment of these counties will enhance the Red Cross’ working relationship with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, the Georgia Region of the American Red Cross and the Red Cross Southeast Division, which includes the states of Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

The chapter will now provide vital Red Cross services for families in Catoosa, Dade, Walker, Chattooga, Polk, Floyd and Bartow counties, and is also responsible for Red Cross operations in Murray, Gordon and Whitfield counties. The new name is more reflective of the chapter’s growing regional role. Red Cross office locations continue unchanged in Rome (headquarters), Dalton, Calhoun, Chatsworth and Cartersville. 

“The new name and responsibilities allow us to share resources, volunteers and staff in order to operate more efficiently and economically,” said Jac Whatley, chapter executive director.  “We remain dedicated to bringing the people of northwest Georgia the best possible services in disaster response and health, safety and disaster preparation education. The Red Cross has been there for our citizens in times of need for more than 90 years and, with the support of the community, we will continue to help our neighbors prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.”

“Our goal is to meet or exceed the fine standard of service provided to these three Georgia counties by the Chattanooga Area Chapter,” said Whatley. “Like every chapter, we depend on the invaluable help of volunteers from the area to meet the needs of their friends and neighbors, and that will certainly be the case in Walker, Dade and Catoosa. We look forward to getting to know all those people who have assisted the Chattanooga Area Chapter faithfully for so long.”

“The residents of northwest Georgia can rest assured that the vital services we have provided will continue and that the Red Cross will be there when needed. We look forward to working closely with the Northwest Georgia Chapter,” said Barbara Alexander, executive director of the Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross.

More than 495,000 people live in the areas covered by the Northwest Georgia Chapter.  Volunteers are active in every county, and more are needed. For more information on the Northwest Georgia Chapter and how to volunteer or give financially to the organization’s mission visit www.nwgaredcross.org. Interested volunteers can call Sharman Turner, volunteer coordinator, at (706) 291-6648 or e-mail her at sharmanturner@comcast.net.