Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) 
The Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) division of the American Red Cross is chartered by Congress to provide assistance to members of the military. The mission is "to support and supplement those activities of the military that affect the health, welfare and morale of services members and their families". Recently reorganized at the national level, the SAF program, formerly known as AFES (Armed Forces Emergency Services), has rededicated itself to provide support to military service men and women and their families. The SAF group will provide emergency communications such as birth/death/emergency welfare checks, financial assistance to military families, counseling, the "Get to Know Us Before You Need Us" program and other support actvities to military families.
The Clark County SAF team has 4-6 members that handle 24-hour per day response to emergency communication needs of Clark & Washington counties in Indiana. "We are very proud of our SAF team," states Chapter Executive Director Phyllis Wilkins. "These volunteers provide an essential service to our military families and we are fortunate to have a wonderful, totally volunteer staff that is dedicated to providing top-notch assistance to our military."
If you are interested in becoming a part of the Clark County SAF team, please contact the Chapter for more information.
    
Hometown Patriots Program
The Clark County Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program is very excited to announce a new service to military families. This new program is called the Hometown Patriots program. This program will allow members of our community to assist their neighbors who are spouses/family members of deployed military members. As an example, Hometown Patriot volunteers would do minor chores such as baby showers, babysitting, gardening, gutter cleaning, housecleaning, mowing, minor car/home repairs, raking leaves, putting up/taking down holiday decorations, and many other chores.
“We see that the spouse of a deployed service member is often called on to do chores that he or she can’t do,” says SAF program coordinator Mary Lou Densford. “The Hometown Patriot can step in and help Dad with a birthday party for his 5 year-old daughter, or help Mom with cleaning gutters and raking leaves. This is just another way we can thank our military for all that they sacrifice for us.”
Who can be a Hometown Patriot?
Anyone 18 years of age or older, who has successfully completed the program application, an interview with committee members and passes the Red Cross volunteer background check may be part of the program.
Youth groups with an adult leader who has successfully completed these aforementioned steps may participate as well.
How do I request services from the program? Am I eligible?
Contact the Chapter at 812-283-8416, 800-850-8894 or e-mail us at mdensford@insightbb.com . You must have a valid military dependent ID card.
Liability Statement
Due to liability considerations, volunteers may NOT provide transportation or render other services that may include risk.
The Clark County Red Cross reserves the right to decline requests for services that may place volunteers at risk.
The four following forms must be completed prior to participating in the Hometown Patriot Program. Click on each title to print the form. Complete these and bring or mail them to the Chapter.
Chapter Volunteer Application Code of Conduct Confidential Information Hometown Patriot Intake Sheet
For more information on the Hometown Patriot program, call the Clark County Red Cross at 812-283-8416 or e-mail program coordinator Mary Lou Densford at mdensford@insightbb.com; dfeuerhlem1@att.net or rhonda20larry@sbcglobal.net.
Neighbors Helping Neighbors -
Be a Hometown Patriot!
 
Founding Partners
Clark County Red Cross and The Evening News
Blue Star Banners 
The Blue Star Service Banner was designed and patented in 1917 by World War I Army Capt. Robert L. Queisser of the 5th Ohio Infantry. Queisser’s two sons served on the front line. His banner quickly became the unofficial symbol for parents with a child in active military service.
On Sept. 24, 1917, an Ohio congressman read the following into the Congressional Record: “The mayor of Cleveland, the Chamber of Commerce and the governor of Ohio have adopted this service flag. The world should know of those who give so much for liberty. The dearest thing in all the world to a father and mother: their children.” Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star Mothers organizations were established during World War I and remain active today.
During World War II, the Department of War issued specifications on manufacture of the flag, as well as guidelines indicating when the service flag could be flown and by whom. Restrictions were also passed on who can wear the service lapel. The Department of Defense authorized the service flag and service lapel on Dec. 1, 1967, with DoD Directive 1348.1, which implemented an act of Congress (U.S. Code 179-182).
The Blue Star Service Banner is an 8.5-by-14-inch white field with one or more blue stars sewn onto a red banner. The size varies but should be in proportion to the U.S. flag. Today, families display these banners when they have a loved one serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The blue star represents one family member serving, and a banner can have up to five stars. If the individual is killed or dies, a smaller golden star is placed over it. Gold stars are placed above the blue stars or to the top right of the flag, in the event a flag represents multiple service members.
Blue Star Service Banners were widely used during both world wars, but were not embraced during the Korean or Vietnam wars with the same enthusiasm. The American Legion rekindling that spirit of pride in our military men and women following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks by providing banners to military families across the nation.
Our Chapter is proud to provide Blue Star Service Banners to military families in our area. Please contact the Chapter for more information on how to obtain a banner in honor of your active duty military family member. Call 812-283-8416 or e-mail mdensford@insightbb.com.
Military OneSource
A great source of information and services for military members and their families is Military Onesource. This program is provided by the Department of Defense at no cost to service members. Their web address is www.militaryonesource.com and their toll-free stateside phone number is 800-342-9647.
Directory Links Wounded Warriors, Families to Resources
By Elaine Wilson American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2011 - From benefits and compensation to education and training, an online directory is providing wounded warriors, veterans and their families a direct connection to thousands of state, local and national resources.
"There's so much information on the Web right now, it's nice to have one place to access all of the content, the services, the information you need," John R. Campbell, deputy assistant secretary of defense for wounded warrior care and transition policy, told American Forces Press Service. "It really permits the service member and family the ability to get information directly."
The Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs departments created the National Resource Directory -- located at http://www.nationalresourcedirectory.gov/ -- to link wounded warriors, service members, veterans, their families and caregivers to nationwide resources that support recovery, rehabilitation and community reintegration, Campbell explained.
Toward that end, the directory contains information on a broad range of topics, including benefits and compensation, education and training, employment, caregiver support, health, housing, and transportation and travel.
With such a vast amount of information, Campbell said, a considerable effort went into creating user-friendly navigation tools to help people pin down resources quickly, whether it's local grassroots efforts or national-level initiatives. People can search for a resource or program by subject, state or territory. A recent addition is a state widget that people can customize and embed in home pages, blogs and other sites. Once there, the information is updated automatically.
New programs and resources are added to the directory as quickly as agencies and organizations can roll them out. Experts always are working to ensure they're hitting on the hot topics for troops and their families, Campbell noted, and as a result, the site is constantly evolving.
Campbell cited veteran homelessness as an example. The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is working with the Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development departments to eliminate homelessness entirely by VA's goal of 2015. The directory has devoted an entire section to homelessness, featuring resources that offer everything from emergency housing to employment assistance.
Spouse employment is another area of growth on the directory, Campbell noted, particularly with new programs and resources in the works. The Labor, Commerce and Defense departments and the Small Business Administration, for example, are working with the business community to expand career options for spouses. Officials will ensure new spouse employment resources are added to the directory as they arise, he said.
While officials always are on the lookout for new information to post to the directory, feedback from troops and their families plays an integral role in keeping the site current, Campbell said. The site includes an easy-to-locate section where people can submit resources for consideration or pass on praise for outstanding service.
"We'll take that resource and, if we find out it's a good one, we'll put it up," he said. Officials verify each resource before posting, he added. A nonprofit organization, for example, must be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau before it can be considered for the directory. "That's the idea: to make it easy, make it efficient, make it valuable," Campbell said.
To further that effort, he said, a mobile version of the directory will launch in the spring for smart phone users. "The target audience is younger service members and families," he added. "We're really excited about that."
Campbell said he's received great feedback on the site, and is encouraged by a vast improvement in visitors, which he attributes to word of mouth. In the last quarter of 2010, the site's unique visitors jumped by 115 percent, he said. "We're continuing to get reinforcement that we're doing the right thing," he said.
Related Sites: National Resource Directory
Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ at http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx for up-to-date information.
Get the help you, your family, and fellow servicemembers need, when you need it. Visit www.WarriorCare.mil to learn more.
Check out the National Resource Directory at www.nationalresourcedirectory.org, a new web-based resource for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs.
This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/.
|
