Kearney's Red Cross

The Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton in 1881 in Washington D.C. In 1900 the Red Cross received their first congressional charter where they were tasked by the federal government to provide services to members of the American armed forces and their families, while also providing disaster relief not only in the United States but around the world. Local first aid and swim classes were first introduced in the early 1900s through the Red Cross. However, by the 1950s Kearney's chapter was at the risk of losing those programs because there wasn’t enough funding.

The Red Cross helped in both world wars. During World War I they held many benefits to help raise money. On May 9th, 1917, the Buffalo County Chapter of the Red Cross held a benefit program with the Music Department of nearby Kearney State Normal School. The Red Cross also paired with members of the community to collect knitted clothing that would be donated to hospitals. Another local fundraiser was held on July 13, 1918. The Mid-Way Motor Company had an automatic air device for inflating tires that cost a nickel and all the money that was collected was donated to the Red Cross.

During the 1930s the Red Cross was called upon to serve those suffering from drought and famine on a large-scale for the first time. The Red Cross chapters in smaller communities carried on extensive programs of relief and social service, working in close cooperation with public and other private agencies. By the late 1930s 116,390 families had been assisted by chapter workers in connection with their civilian relief activities. After World War II, the Red Cross developed the first nationwide civilian blood program that is still in place today. The Red Cross was also about helping the families of those who were serving in the wars. In Kearney, the local chapter helped a solider in the Korean War come home on leave to see his sick mother for thirty days.

The most recent event where the Red Cross helped the local community was in the summer of 2019, when Kearney and neighboring communities suffered through a devastating flood. Two Red Cross disaster assessment teams did prep work for helping in Buffalo and Dawson County. That year the Red Cross reported that 98 homes were destroyed or had suffered major damage, 55 homes had minor damage, and there were 72 cases that were opened serving around 150 people.

A Brief History of the American Red Cross, Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-full-history.pdf.

American Red Cross. Contributions of Young Americans, Red Cross. Accessed December 6th 2020. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/contributions-young-americans.html.

Konz, Mike. "98 Homes Destroyed or Heavily Damaged in South-Central Nebraska flooding, according to NEMA ." Daily Kearney Hub (Kearney ) June 26th 2019.

"Red Cross Notes." Kearney Hub (Kearney ) May 27th 1918.

"Red Cross." Kearney Hub (Kearney ) November 22nd 1917.

"Critically Ill Mother Brings Action by The Red Cross, Son Flown Home from Korean Front." Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney ) March 16th 1951.

"County May Lose Red Cross Blood, Swimming Programs." Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney ) March 12th 1954. Front Page sec, 1-7.

"Kearney Women on District Red Cross Program." Kearney Daily Hub (Kearney) October 22nd 1940. 5.