Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program is available to all members
of the armed services, and to their families. Communication and emergency
financial assistance services are available to active duty military and their
immediate families, reservists or National Guard on active duty and their
families, military retirees or their spouse or widow(er), recruiters, and
civilians employed by the United States Armed Forces.
Emergency Communications
Communication services keep
military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious
illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a
child. The Red Cross quickly sends these communications on behalf of the
family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world,
including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information
or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer
with making a decision regarding emergency leave.
Information, Referral and
Advocacy
The American Red Cross helps
military families cope with non-urgent problems by confidentially providing
information, referral, and guidance. These services include helping military
families receive assistance from other agencies and provide assistance with
arranging family support.
Emergency Financial Assistance
The Red Cross works with the
military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief
Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This
partnership helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel that
requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, burial of a
loved one, or with assistance that cannot wait until the next business day
(food, temporary lodging, urgent medical needs, or the minimum amount required
to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.).
Counseling
The American Red Cross offers
confidential services to all military personnel — active duty, National Guard
and Reserves — and their families. As more and more National Guard and
Reserve units are called to full-time duty status, counseling has become
increasingly important to prepare the civilian-based military members and
their families for the period of activation. Because members of the National
Guard and Reserve typically live in civilian neighborhoods, they and their
families frequently have difficulty accessing much-needed, military-related
social services.
Veteran Services
Please contact the chapter to learn
more about our veteran assistance services which include assistance and
support in filing a government financial claim with the Department of Veterans
Affairs. Additional services may be available as more veterans programs
become available in our area. You may also wish to learn more from the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
To access these services, please
contact the Blount County Chapter (email
or call 865-983-0821) during business hours, or the Area SAF Coordinator (email
or call
865-584-2999).
