Red Cross to Burn Surplus Blood

Washington Post ^ | 11/11/2001 | Gilbert M. Gaul and Mary Pat Flaherty

[Pokey78]

The American Red Cross collected hundreds of thousands of blood donations after Sept. 11 knowing that it could not be used for victims of the terrorist attacks.

After selling some of the surplus to hospitals, the Red Cross has begun to destroy thousands of pints that have outlasted their shelf life. Directors of several Red Cross blood centers said their sites may discard as many as 1 of every 5 donations and the national total could easily reach tens of thousands.

[MadIvan]

sarah jessica parker has just as bad a figure

Sarah Jessica Parker is in league with Satan - Sex in the City is the most dreadful piece of crap I've ever had the misfortune to see on television. I feel sorry for New York women because of it - anyone who watches the show will see NYC women portrayed as neurotic, hormonal and thoroughly vapid.

Regards, Ivan

[JD86]

Here are the facts that I have stated about the Red Cross. After 9/11 public service announcements were made about setting up funds for the victims of 9/11....people gave money to those funds for those people. Later (about a month later) the Red Cross announced they had collected so much money that they were going to "save" some of it for other things. Those are facts. Many people who gave to the 9/11 victims fund felt misled. I felt misled.

I understand that there are expenses involved in running any program....but we are not talking about administrative expenses here. We are talking about the Red Cross changing the objective after they had the money in their hands. Or, if their objective was always to divert some of the funds, we are talking about their lack of candor with the public. Now I am agreeing to disagree with the Red Cross in the future. I do not feel like I can believe their announcements anymore. So I will choose to make my future donations to other organizations. If you still believe them, go ahead and send them your money.

[JD86]

You're both evil and offer nothing but hate for this country (in my opinion).

You have demonstrated your childishness by calling everyone names and insisting that they all hate America if they don't agree with you. You don't know me or anything about me. Your opinion of me has no basis in fact and therefore is of no interest to me.

[Sister_T]

Good grief! What is wrong with you??? What is so "evil" or "anti-American" about raising the possibility that the Red Cross may or may not be doing what they claimed they would do? Why is it "evil" to question them? Are they above questioning?

I don't know what the deal is with the Red Cross. You may be right or the others may be right but is it really necessary to label anyone who doesn't share your particularly view of the Red Cross as "evil" and "anti-American"? That doesn't speak very well of your view if you must label those who ask possibly legitimate questions about the Red Cross.

Calm yourself and show a little more maturity. You can express your view without resorting to childish attacks like name-calling.

[JD86]

Hey everyone. Great News. I don't know how to make a link but I wanted to make sure everyone knew about this report.

Red Cross Offering Refunds News/Current Events Source: newsmax.com Published: 11/11/01 Author: staff Posted on 11/11/01 12:24 PM Pacific by nicmarlo

The Red Cross is offering refunds to those who donated to the charity's "Liberty Fund" and are unhappy that all of the money isn't going directly to victims of the World Trade Center attacks.

"We don't want to keep funds from people who contributed with one thing in mind and find that it's being spent on another thing," said New York fund-raising chief Dolores Swirin.

Swirin told the New York Post Sunday that 3,000 people have contacted the charity in the last 10 days demanding explanations of how their contributions are being spent.

The Red Cross has raised over a half-billion dollars for it's Liberty Fund, which drew criticism after reports that the charity was spending the money on things like telecommunications upgrades.

Those reports were dismissed as an urban legend by Red Cross spokesman Bill Blaul.

"The money for the Liberty Fund is set aside exclusively for the victims of the September 11 attacks and their families, their dependents, the emergency response workers and the recovery workers on the scene right now," he insisted to WABC Radio last week.

But Blaul admitted that some of the Liberty Fund money would be allocated for the "related aftermath" of the Sept. 11 attacks, such as relief for families of victims of the ongoing wave of anthrax attacks and a reserve fund in case of a second major terrorist attack on the U.S.

For more information about Red Cross donations, call 1-877-REDCROSS ext. 2460 or email at: contribute@arcgny.org

[CheneyChick]

Thank you.

[Sister_T]

Friend, you and others who question the Red Cross have NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR. I'm not saying you are apologizing, I've read your posts but I just find it shameful that VA Advogado has to label you and anyone else as "evil" and "anti-American" for questioning the Red Cross and making your decision not to donate to them anymore. That is your choice and it is not something that you or anyone else should be berated or labeled as "evil" for doing.

[JD86]

Thanks for your public support. I believe we are allowed to post our opinions and to disagree in a civil manner when we have opposing views. I don't understand the venom in his responses....but I know it says much more about his character than it does about mine.

[Askel5]

but having done some checking on Askel's post I see she's a BUSH hater. Figures. You've lost what drop of credibilty you ever had with me. Pound sand. You're both evil and offer nothing but hate for this country (in my opinion).

Hey ... do me a favor and point out for me please how you (and others) can tell I "hate Bush".

God knows I'd target another surname if I could but it's damned difficult to avoid all mention of the Bush family when addressing the words, actions and objectives as stated by the "GOP Leadership" in power at least the length of my entire life.

[rockfish59]

the only time i've seen it is when i go to my niece's and her grandmother (who is 65) watches it.

jeez, don't people have sex in the country too? lol!

[VA Advogado]

Friend, you and others who question the Red Cross have NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR.

They should apologize for the lies they've told and implied about the red cross. On that I think we both can agree.

[NYCVirago]

I look at it this way -- the Red Cross is supposed to be in the business of emergency management. They are supposed to be the experts in handling crises. This is the only way one can justify the high salaries this non-profit pays to their employees -- that they are professional managers. But since 9/11, we've seen that this organization is not "good in a crisis", as the saying goes -- they have mismanaged blood, they have mismanaged money, and they have mismanaged the faith the American people had in them.

[JD86]

they have mismanaged blood, they have mismanaged money, and they have mismanaged the faith the American people had in them.

Unfortunately, you are right.

[technochick99]

bump... a sentiment worth *considering*....