"Raise the Roof" at the American Red Cross continues.....You can still make a donation on line just by clicking the donate button below.

Special thanks to those who have made gifts and donations toward our goal.

Friends of Hospice of the Piedmont

Charlottesville Auto Body Shop

Mack Morris Heating and Air

Parham Construction

Lawn Care Associates

                                                 United Rentals

                                                   T & N Printing

                                                  Chick-fil-A

                                                          Ragged Mountain Running Shop, Inc.

                                                          University of Virginia Community Credit Union 

During the December 18th Winter Storm of 2009, when 18 inches of snow fell on the ground in under 24 hours, the roof at the American Red Cross - Central Virginia Regional Chapter began to fail.  At that time, the Red Cross was helping to shelter stranded motorists and Albermarle county residents, providing cots, blankets, meals and emotional support to 315 clients trapped by the storm.  After the snow melted, the roof was patched using a mixture of tar and gravel.

On February 5, 2010, a second Winter Storm, hit Central Virginia and the Charlottesville/Albemarle County area received 21-plus inches of snow.  The Red Cross immediately jumped back into action, with "all hands on deck."  A Disaster Operations Center was set up at our Rose Hill Drive facility to support the work of 11 staff and 47 volunteers who prepared for, and worked during this winter storm, supporting 14 shelters throughout our chapter's 14-county jurisidction.

The following week, the Charlottesville/Albemarle County area received an additional 6 inches of snow on top of the 21 inches we already had!  All through the storm, Red Cross-supported shelters remained open for cold and hungry seniors and residents until they could safely return home.

Through this time of heavy snow and ice, the Red Cross was concerned about one thing and one thing only - the safety of Charlottesville/Albemarle residents.  Would their roofs hold under the weight of all this snow?  Would companies be able to evacuate and protect their workers if their roofs collapsed?  Would workers and residents be able to travel to Red Cross supported shelters if or when their roofs fell in from all the snow?

Tough economic times require tough choices.  More people than ever are turning to the Red Cross for services.  Financial donations are down.  Consequently, the Central Virginia Regional Chapter made the decision to spend donated dollars making sure that the residents of Charlottesville/Albemarle County have a roof over their heads during times of crisis.  How ironic, that now it's the Red Cross that needs a roof!

The goal of the American Red Cross is to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.  To accomplish this goal, our chapter needs to be able to continue teaching health and safety classes four times per week at our reigonal headquarters and for our employees to work in a place that is dry and healthy.

With your help - we can Raise the Roof at the Red Cross!!