By By Lisa Tindell
Residents in the Atmore area will benefit from a major grant that has allowed the West Escambia Chapter of the American Red Cross to become better equipped should a disaster occur.
The local chapter received a portion of a Walmart Foundation grant, along with chapters in Choctaw, Clarke, Monroe and Washington and East Escambia counties.
Joan Hackman, director of the local chapter, said the receipt of a supply trailer through the grant funds will offer quicker response should the need arise to open shelters in the area.
Hackman said the delivery of the trailer last week is the first contribution of it’s kind to the Atmore area.
The announcement of the grant was made by the American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Regional Chapter last week. The trailer will be housed, for security purposes, at the Poarch Fire Department on Jacksprings Road.
The grant is part of a $5 million disaster readiness and capacity building grant program made possible by the Wal-Mart Foundation. Leisle Mims, executive director of he Alabama Gulf Coast chapter said the grant will make meeting needs of residents possible in a disaster situation.
The grant also funded a disaster training institute held earlier this year on the Poarch Creek Reservation, Hackman said. During the institute seven more volunteers from Atmore and surrounding areas took Red Cross classes that will enable them to respond to local disasters.
The American Red cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For additional information contact Hackman or visit the agencies Website at www.redcross.org.