March 11, 2022 10:50 a.m.

During their weekly business meeting on Wednesday, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners issued a proclamation naming March as American Red Cross Month in the county.

A release said the Board expressed their support of the organization, its volunteers and donors, who they said “…have been indispensable during various times of crisis in our community”.

Commissioner Chris Boice read the proclamation which recognized the residents of the county who “…have come together time after time to care for one another”. Boice mentioned those who volunteer, give blood, or donate financially to help the Red Cross Cascades Region do the work they do locally and throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

Commissioner Tim Freeman said in his 7 years on the Board, there have been multiple major events that have necessitated strategic coordination with the American Red Cross. Freeman said the most involved and prolonged event was the Archie Creek Wildfire. Freeman said County government worked with the Red Cross volunteers to immediately stand up a temporary shelter at the fairgrounds for wildfire evacuees. He said the County continued to work with them to provide temporary housing for several months following the event. Freeman said, “The American Red Cross is absolutely one of those organizations that shows up to help and we are very grateful”.

The proclamation is linked with this story at: