King Foundation offers grant to local Red Cross

    The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation has made a $150,000 grant to the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross to support its disaster response, Armed Forces Emergency Services, Health and Safety Training and emergency preparedness programs in eastern and northern Maine.
 “The Pine Tree Chapter’s board, staff and volunteers are very grateful for this special grant,” said Chapter Executive Director Shannon Flavin Cox. “The Chapter receives no funds from the national office of the American Red Cross, or from the federal, state or county governments. All local services are supported by generous people, businesses, and grants from foundations like the King Foundation. In recognition of its past support, the Foundation was recognized as the 2009 Foundation Partner at the Chapter’s annual meeting in June,” added Cox.
    Last year, the Pine Tree Chapter responded to nearly 160 home fires and other local disasters in helping nearly 500 Mainers with almost $100,000 worth of emergency shelter, food, clothing and emotional support. These were the highest numbers of disasters and victims served since the Chapter began serving Maine in 1919.  
    The Pine Tree Chapter serves more than 400,000 Mainers who live in Aroostook and six other eastern and northern Maine counties. It is the largest local Red Cross Chapter east of the Mississippi River. The chapter’s 10 staff members, more than 125 disaster volunteers and 65 skill instructors work out of four offices.  For more information regarding chapter services or contributing to the local Red Cross go to www.pinetree.redcross.org or by call 493-4620 in Caribou.