"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - CN Contributes To American Red Cross

"Photo (L-R): Mary Ogle, Tulsa Chapter CEO; Chad Smith, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief; and Hope Margarit, Red Cross Service Center Director for Muskogee, Cherokee,
Adair and northern McIntosh Counties."

TULSA, Oklahoma - The Cherokee Nation contributed $10,000 recently to the Tulsa Area Chapter of the American Red Cross to assist the group with disaster funding efforts in northeastern Oklahoma.

“The Cherokee Nation team has worked closely with the American Red Cross in recent years,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Our area has been plagued by ice storms, tornados and floods the past few years. The Cherokee Nation is honored to help organizations that provide help to Cherokee citizens and their Oklahoma neighbors in times of need.”

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergency situations. The mission of the organization is to relieve human suffering and equip people with the skills to stay safe.

The Cherokee Nation Emergency Management group works closely with the organization as well as Emergency Management professionals from federal, state and local governments during times of disasters. The tribe offers resources such as food, water, shelter, heating, manpower and more to help those in need of assistance during emergency situations, such as the recent flooding in Mayes County and surrounding areas.

“The American Red Cross is so thankful to the Cherokee Nation and Chief Chad Smith for this donation. Disasters, including the ice storm, house fires and apartment fires, have been on the rise in the past year. The Red Cross is committed to helping all these families even in difficult financial times. That’s why we rely on donors like the Cherokee Nation to help the Red Cross continue to assist disaster victims. When people see the Cherokee Nation donate, it sets a great example for individuals to help, too, because they realize that any one of us could have a disaster and suddenly need the Red Cross,” said Mary Ogle, CEO of the Tulsa Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.