Service to the Armed Forces
Members of the Armed Forces and their families encounter stress not
always experienced in civilian life - lengthy separations from family, lack of
familiar support resources and ineligibility for local benefits.
The U.S. Congress mandates that the American Red Cross provide social
welfare services to our service members and their family members. We work to
accomplish this mission, easing stress unique to the families of service members
and serving the entire community in several ways.
How to Contact the Red Cross for
Assistance
Call (888) 737-4306
(toll-free) if you are an Active duty service member stationed in the
United
States, or a family member residing with
them.
 Emergency Communications
Red Cross emergency communication services keep
military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious
illness of an immediate family member, the birth of a service member's child or
grandchild or when a family faces other emergencies.
Where ever their
military service takes them, he or she knows that the Red Cross will deliver
notification in times of an emergency at home. Even if the service member
receives an e-mail or phone call from home, Red Cross-verified information
assists commanding officers with making a decision regarding emergency leave.
Without this verification, the service member may not be able to come home
during a family crisis.
Emergency Financial Assistance
The
Red Cross also provides access to emergency financial assistance for members of
the military, their dependents and military retirees in the form of
interest-free loans. The funds are made available through the military aid
societies and may be used for emergency food, shelter, clothing, transportation,
burial assistance and child care.
Counseling Services
The Red Cross
offers limited counseling for members of the military and their families. The
stress which may accompany long periods of separation and deployment is common
among military families. The Red Cross has trained professionals available to
help them to cope during these difficult times.
Worldwide Location Services
The Red Cross may
assistant in locating an active duty service member who has become estranged
from immediate family members. For those individuals who have lost contact with
their family members (in other countries) due to war, natural disasters or other
changing world conditions.
 Services to Veterans
The American Red Cross provides
assistance and information to veterans about the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Red Cross workers assist veterans in the preparation, development and effort to
obtain evidence to support a claim for financial benefits through the Board of
Veterans Appeals.
Also, through the Veterans Administration Volunteer
Services, Red Cross volunteers ranging in age from teenagers to retirees,
provide a number of support services to patients in VA medical centers. Services
provided by Red Cross volunteers may include physical rehabilitation, social
work, general ward help and information, library work, nursing and
administration.
For additional information regarding services for
veterans at the Long Beach VA Hospital click here.
Information and Referral
Services
The Red Cross maintains a listing of community resources and
provides information and referral services to those individuals who do not meet
Red Cross criteria for direct assistance. Referrals are provided for food,
clothing, shelter, transportation, rental/utilities
assistance.
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