FORD CITY -- The news that an American Red Cross chapter in Johnstown may be closing due to a lack of funds doesn't surprise local chapter officials.
According to news accounts, the Keystone Chapter, based in Johnstown, has had to make staffing cuts and has seen its funds decrease by half in the past five years, causing the chapter to look at closing its doors.
Nicole Gustin, a spokesperson for the Red Cross Northeast service area, which covers from Maine to Pennsylvania, said the Johnstown chapter is not necessarily going to close its doors.
"Yes, the Keystone chapter is struggling, and they have had to cut their staff," Gustin said. "But we are not in a position to say that they will be closing their doors at this time."
Karen Fair, executive director for the Armstrong County Chapter, based in Ford City, said the news about Johnstown was sad, but not surprising.
"A lot of chapters are struggling," she said. "Our agency and each chapter depend on donations and when the donations aren't coming in, it makes it tough."
Fair said the local chapter is not in danger of closing and is not planning to cut its staff of two full-time employees and one part-time employee, but said she can understand why the Johnstown chapter is in the situation it is in.
"The economy is slow and the donations are slow," she said. "The problem we face is that donations usually come in after a disaster happens and it causes us to have to play catch up. Tragedy spurs donations."
Fair said the education and relief services offered by the Red Cross are free and are provided by volunteers. The only services offered which collect money are the health and safety courses, such as first aid, AED training and CPR classes.
"The community needs to understand that in order to support them, they must support us," she said. "We need to collect donations before a disaster strikes so that we are able to have supplies and services ready to go as quickly as possible."
According to the news accounts of the Johnstown chapter's plight, a rash of residential fires in that area have stressed that agency's budget.
In Armstrong County, the Red Cross has seen a decrease in fire relief during the past two years.
Fair said that during the period of July 2005 to June 2006, the local chapter has handled 34 fires involving 86 people, and from July 2006 to June 2007, the chapter handled 24 fires involving 75 people.
"So far this year (from July 1, 2007 to the present) we have handled two fires involving 10 people," she said. "It's too early to tell if the chapter will see an increase or decrease for this fiscal year."
While donations taken in by the chapter are used locally, the nearly 75 volunteers are available for service in Armstrong County, as well as Western Pennsylvania and the entire United States.
"Our people are trained and ready to respond anywhere they are needed," she said. "We've had volunteers in Pittsburgh and Beaver County due to the recent flooding and have had volunteers travel to areas such as New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and other places."
The Red Cross will hold a blood drive today from noon to 6 p.m. at St. Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Kittanning, and will take part in a senior expo, sponsored by Sen. Don White, R-Indiana, also at the church from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30.
For more information on the Red Cross services or to make donations, call the office at 724-763-2272.
