Life in America changed forever on the morning of September 11, 2001. The tragedies of September 11 represented an attack on America's spirit, our liberty, and our national security. The attack was an unprecedented disaster and the American Red Cross responded immediately in an unprecedented fashion.

Conversely, we have never before received such overwhelming support from the public. Americans have responded with an outpouring of love, labor, blood and generosity. The American Red Cross depends solely on voluntary donations of time, money and blood. Without these donations, we would not be able to carry out our humanitarian mission.

The Red Cross mobilized within minutes to meet the needs of those affected. Shelter, feeding, and grief counseling operations were initiated. Red Cross disaster volunteers responded in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania as well as in airports across America where passengers were stranded. Our entire national blood system responded to the urgent call for blood.

Since September 11, the Red Cross has directly provided assistance to 31,694 families who were displaced, injured, lost a loved one or unemployed in the disaster affected area. Red Cross has also served 12,635,804 meals and snacks, provided 193,727 mental health contacts, 107,286 health contacts, opened 38 service delivery centers and provided direct financial assistance to 3,096 families.

Red Cross disaster relief workers have diligently worked at disaster sites where they are providing food, shelter, and emotional support by caring for police, fire emergency personnel and construction workers. Total Red Cross disaster workers assigned is 52,432 of which 50,341 are volunteers. In fact, six disaster workers from the Muskegon area have been assigned to New York along with our Emergency Response Vehicle.