The Valdosta Chamber hosted a ribbon cutting for the American Red Cross of South-Central Georgia’s new location at 385 Connell Road.

The American Red Cross of South-Central Georgia focuses on a range of services, including disaster relief, community disaster preparedness, water safety and lifeguard training, first aid and CPR, and provides services to the armed forces.

Executive Director Terri Jenkins said that the relocation into a bio-med facility will allow a stronger in-person collaboration with all lines of service that will benefit clients, donors, partners, and the community. In addition, the new location offers more space for training services to ensure people are ready to respond to lifesaving activities and help save lives.

“Many thought that there were two Red Cross components, Blood Services and Humanitarian Services. It has always been one organization and one mission, just different lines of service. All lines of service will operate under one roof for the first time in years. It is a Blood Services facility where blood and disaster supplies are stored for community drives and disaster operations. Board meetings, volunteer training, blood drives, CPR classes, and more will take place out of this building,” Jenkins said.

In the past fiscal year, Jenkins said the South-Center Georgia chapter assisted 362 families, installed 340 smoke alarms, hosted nearly 300 blood drives, collected over 6,300 units of blood, over 1,100 services were provided to active-duty members and veterans, and 3,375 people were trained in lifesaving courses, aquatics and lifecare giving.

“We wanted to share with the community where the Red Cross office is now and show off the beautiful facility. It is important to know where to go to inquire about donating blood, signing up for training classes, making a financial donation, and requesting help if a disaster, such as a home fire, has occurred,” Jenkins said.

 For more information, contact Jenkins at (229) 300-6094, by email at terri.jenkins@redcross.org, or online at www.redcross.org/ga/south.