HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Rotary Club met Feb. 27 with two guests present, Caroline King, the guest speaker, and her colleague Mary Green. King is the executive director of Northern and Eastern Maine American Red Cross, and Green is a recently hired representative for the organization. Club Vice President Julie Delano hosted the team.
King has been involved with the American Red Cross since 1994 as a college intern in Western Illinois. She was the interim executive director for Mid Coast Maine’s chapter and more recently worked at the Major Gifts Office for the state of Maine. She comes to northern Maine with much experience.
Her job deals with fundraising and community awareness of the high quality care that the American Red Cross provides in preventing and alleviating human suffering in the event of emergencies, such as natural disasters or other disasters.
The Red Cross’ scope of work includes two major areas: disaster relief services and lifesaving blood. With more than 1,100 volunteers in Maine during 2015, the Red Cross worked with families displaced by fire or other disasters. Solutions involve temporary shelter, food and clothing, medical needs or mental health services.
The Red Cross manages 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the country. Maine individuals donated 69,564 units of blood for the June to July 2015 fiscal year. One unit can save up to three lives.
The Red Cross also helps Maine residents with health safety and preparedness information and skills, providing services for military families, and providing international services.
The organization offers training in first aid, CPR, water safety and babysitter training. Services to military families vary with connecting service members to their families through emergency messages, linking families and veterans, providing financial assistance and other services such as the donation of therapy equipment. International services involve humanitarian work to meet the needs of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Red Cross volunteers are welcome in all the areas that the Red Cross focuses on. Training is provided. For more information consult www.MaineRedCross.org or call King at 207-941-2903, extension 402.
