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SALT LAKE CITY — The American Red Cross and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a new partnership Wednesday morning at Welfare Square.
The two partners have had a working relationship for 25 years, but Wednesday's announcement is about a formal contract or memorandum that makes communication on a local level throughout the country that much easier.
Gail McGovern, the president and CEO of the American Red Cross, and her staff toured Welfare Square. She called it a magnificent partnership which will now increase in effectiveness in three areas: disaster relief, preparedness and blood donations. Church congregations in Utah, she said, hold regular blood drives contributing more than 50,000 units every year. That amounts to 25 percent of the blood collections in this area.
"As members of the church we are committed to helping the poor and the needy, helping those who are in difficulties and we view that as a divine mandate for us to do that," said Steve Peterson, Managing Director of Welfare Services for the Church.
The new agreement they both say will help coordinate more in disaster planning, with training, drills using Church facilities for potential disaster relief.
