American Red Cross Gets $1.5 Million Donation For Emergency Vehicles
Oct 26, 2018, 7:01 PM | Updated: 11:50 pm
MURRAY, Utah – The American Red Cross planned to add 10 new emergency vehicles, thanks to a $1.5 million donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The announcement was made by the two organizations Friday.
The donation will allow the purchase of new ERV (Emergency Response Vehicles) vehicles to provide relief in the event of a disaster.
“They are almost always the first on site when there is a disaster,” said Bishop Dean M. Davies, of the church’s Presiding Bishopric. “When that vehicle comes into a disaster zone and people see it, they know someone is there who cares about them. It is not just the vehicle, but the image of knowing people are there to lift people who need help.”
The two organizations, which have partnered for the past century, also renewed their agreement to support each other in their relief efforts. The Church became the first ever “Red Cross Mission Leader,” recognizing the church’s financial support of more than $3 million a year.
“Whether its disaster response or providing funds, whether we need to mobilized volunteers, whether it is our mission to deliver blood donations to save lives, they organize blood drives. This partnership transcends all dimensions of the Red Cross mission,” said Cliff Holtz, chief operating officer of the American Red Cross.
Bishop Davies said the church believes supporting the Red Cross will give not only provide help, but give hope to reduce human suffering.
Bishop Dean M. Davies, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Presiding Bishopric.
“We can’t be everywhere and they can’t be everywhere, but we match our resources together and their needs with our needs. It is a natural relationship… It matches our divinely appointed responsibility to care for the poor and the needy,” Bishop Davies said.
