A helping hand that needs help

To donate to the American Red Cross, go to www.redcross.org

TOPIC: American Red Cross
OUR VIEW: Time to help here at home

In Alabama, a wave of tornadoes ripped through town after town, scattering everything in their path.
Along the Mississippi River, heavy and relentless downpours left the river swollen and unable to handle the massive amount of rainfall, sending overflowing water into towns.
In Joplin, Mo., building after building was shredded by a devastating tornado, leveling homes, businesses and schools.
In an instant in many cases, lives were lost and changed forever.
Natural disasters don’t play favorites; we are all vulnerable. But when tragedy strikes as it has this spring in Alabama, Missouri, along the Mississippi River and many other areas of the United States, the one constant for assistance is the American Red Cross.
It’s hard to put into words how much need there is in places like Joplin and Alabama, where recovery will take years and years.
In many ways, those tragedies have become yesterday’s news to many who are on the outside looking in.
Now it is time for us to help those impacted, and in the process, help many, many others who are facing uncertain futures and trying times ahead.
This spring’s activity has put a strain on Red Cross resources. The agency needs blood donations and money. Those needs never go away.
The Red Cross does plenty locally beyond being on the scene to help a family who suddenly became homeless from a fire. Swimming lessons and babysitting classes are offered, for example.
Assisting the Red Cross to help people in our country is the right thing to do. That next tragedy could be at our own doorstep.

This editorial represents a consensus of The News-Enterprise editorial board.