San Joaquin County Red Cross chapter may close doors without funds

The chapter has been losing money since helping out with international disasters such as the Indonesian tsunami and national disasters like Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, said interim Executive Director Dixon Flynn.

But funds are needed to help people locally.

"The Red Cross needs immediate donations to remain in business. That's how serious this is," said Andy Prokop, executive director of the San Joaquin County United Way.

The Red Cross stepped in after an apartment fire in Lodi in December. The organization provided food, clothing and some lodging to displaced residents.

"This year alone, we've had more family fires (strike homes)," Flynn said.

About $50,000 of the local Red Cross funds have gone to help victims of fires in this county in the past year.

"The Red Cross depends upon this community to help these families," Flynn said, and though donations have remained about normal, it's not enough. "We're now trying to get our house in order for the remainder of the year."

He added that the Red Cross likely will need to raise another $260,000 by the end of the fiscal year, June 30. It takes about $750,000 to operate the chapter each year.

He remains positive that the community and the county will pull through, and said they have in the past. And, in the case that the San Joaquin Red Cross would close, other counties' chapters would step in if there were a disaster.

A shortage of funds affects mostly people whose homes are uninsured because they would be most in need of basic items, should they be displaced.

When Hurricane Katrina hit, half of all local funds raised went to national Red Cross headquarters to be used for helping people in that area, Flynn said.

About the Red Cross

In addition to helping families in disasters, the Red Cross offers classes in first aid, CPR, childcare health and safety, bloodborne pathogens and other programs.
One such program is CPR Saturday, which will be March 24 at the San Joaquin Office of Education Service Center, 2707 Transworld Drive, Stockton. Classes take four hours and begin every hour from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $5 for materials (CPR classes regularly cost $35). Register at 644-2826.
A Red Cross fund-raiser is coming up. The annual Heroes Breakfast, which honors local heroes nominated by county residents, will be April 18 at Wine and Roses. Sponsorships are available. For more information, call Liza Cruz at 466-6971 or e-mail lizah@sanjoaquincounty.redcross.org.
For more information, visit the Web site at sanjoaquincounty.redcross.org.
— News-Sentinel staff.

Last year, about $374,000 went toward national and international disasters. Also, many local donors were making designated contributions. Any checks with a memo for Hurricane Katrina went straight to that cause.

"We have local needs and didn't look at the funding until recently, and we discovered we're going to run short this year," Flynn said.

Prokop said the Red Cross is important to the county, and United Way and Stockton Chamber of Commerce are having a meeting to alert the public that immediate donations are needed.

"They're in dire straits financially," he said. "They provide an essential service no one can live without."

Ideally, everyone in the county would contribute $1, and families would contribute $5, he said.

To make a donation to the San Joaquin County chapter of the American Red Cross, call 466-6971 or visit http://www.sanjoaquincounty.redcross.org.

A meeting held by the United Way and the Stockton Chamber of Commerce will be Monday at 9 a.m. at the Stockton Chamber of Commerce office, in the Waterfront Warehouse on Weber Street in downtown Stockton. Community leaders, business owners, public safety and public service leaders are welcome to attend.

First published: Friday, March 9, 2007

Reader Feedback

T & C wrote on Mar 11, 2007 3:56 PM:

" Dixon, I thought they sent the "big dogs" after you to keep you quiet. "

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Me wrote on Mar 9, 2007 12:29 PM:

" The Red Cross definately doesn't get the respect it deserves. These people are on call 24/7, responding to all sorts of disasters. I have volunteered for several non-profits, and these people are on the go constantly. While yes, Flynn is an idiot passing the buck, I will still support THEM. Isn't his stay there temporary anyway? Get a real Executive Director! One with experience in knowing what to say and what NOT to say to encourage, not discourage! "

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Lodian wrote on Mar 9, 2007 9:51 AM:

" QUOTE "While the chapter does face financial difficulty because of less than expected donations, interim Executive Director Dixon Flynn said Thursday, it isn't going to close its doors. "That was an overstatement," Flynn said." from the Stockton Record. "

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sad story wrote on Mar 9, 2007 9:11 AM:

" just say "non-profit" and all the rats come running for the money. "

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Here we go again! wrote on Mar 9, 2007 9:10 AM:

" Same player, same game, different agency. First Lodi, now Red Cross. That is very unfortunate for them. I suggest they do back ground checks on future directors. Dixon should wear a ski mask around town, all he does is steal from people. "

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OTH wrote on Mar 9, 2007 8:45 AM:

" Flynn has only been on the job 3 weeks. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Mar 9, 2007 8:43 AM:

" Yes, the Stkn Record does have a different version of the story which is very believable. One important thing that jumped out at me in the article was that Flynn has only been there 3wks, yet he just "perused briefly" the press release about such a major story. For an executive with his experience I consider that a huge MISTAKE. Read for yourself: http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/A_NEWS/703090321 "

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Mover wrote on Mar 9, 2007 8:27 AM:

" I agree with Sad that the Red Cross situation is bad, however, it was bad before Dixon Flynn got in. This Chapter has continually had a problem securing a qualified manager for the past 10 years. "

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T & C wrote on Mar 9, 2007 8:12 AM:

" The Stockton Record has a very different take on this story. Read it at recordnet.com and compare before you come to any conclusions about the Red Cross. "

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sad wrote on Mar 9, 2007 7:36 AM:

" I feel so sorry for the Red Cross. Flynn ran the city of Lodi to the brink of bankruptcy. Who hired this guy to run the Red Cross and what were they thinking?! Get this guy away from other people's money! "

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