Fort Bragg Red Cross Club hosts a “Vaccinate a Village” Event

Over two Saturdays in April, the Fort Bragg ARC Youth Club held a “Vaccinate a Village” event at a local grocery store in Fayetteville, NC. The Club was able to set up a table to display the pins and post cards for the “Vaccinate a Village” event between the main entrance and the exit. Club members asked the passing customers for donation to the “Measles Initiative Project” and offered the measles lapel pin or a post card for a one dollar donation. The youth explained the program and answered any questions that the customers may have had.  The response was fantastic!

The “Measles and Rubella Initiative” is a global partnership to ensure no child dies from measles or is born with congenital rubella syndrome. The Initiative is lead by the American Red Cross, the United Nations Foundation, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF and the World Health Organization.  Since it was founded, the “Measles Initiative” has supported the vaccination of more than 1 billion children, mostly in Africa and Asia. That translates to about 4.3 million lives saved and deaths prevented. For more information about the Measles Initiative visit: www.measlesinitiative.org

This project meant so much to the club members because they do not take for granted how lucky they are to have vaccinations as a routine part of their life. They all understand that not all children have the same advantages and just wanted to help level the playing field, to give other children a chance at a healthy life.

These amazing youth volunteers with the American Red Cross, Fort Bragg Station could choose to do many things with a free Saturday and they chose to help Vaccinate a Village. The Fort Bragg ARC Youth Club raised $151.00 in only 13 hours!

Story submitted by: Jeannette E. Salcedo, Assistant Station Manager, Service to the Armed Forces, Fort Bragg, NC.