This Thanksgiving, family and friends gather to give thanks for their good fortune over the past year. The American Red Cross in Nassau County would like to take this opportunity to thank its family and friends as well.

More than 5,100 volunteers and members of our community have given their time, talents and generosity over the past year to help those in dire need throughout Nassau County. Therefore, your Red Cross Chapter was able to provide disaster relief to 2,770 victims of local disasters, such as house fires that have devastated our hometown. For example, when a fire forced 152 senior citizens from the Nathan Hale Senior Village apartment building in Lynbrook, we helped with their disaster-caused needs, such as food, immediate medical needs, new clothing, furnishings, moving, storage and rent for the first and last months.

We trained 50,685 people in lifesaving health and safety programs, such as first aid, CPR, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), life guarding, aquatics, childcare and more.

With our nation fighting terrorism and protecting the freedoms we hold dear, local Red Cross volunteers are helping our military. In just the past fiscal year, we reached out to 1,435 military men and women, as well as their families. We provided emergency communications, such as verification of emergency travel, extension of leave, health and welfare messages, birth messages, financial assistance and deployment briefings about the Red Cross services through the "Get To Know Us" program.

We also conducted 43 international tracing case services, such as the location of relatives separated by war, political conflict, or changing world events, or by situations deserving service on humanitarian grounds; and those involving the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing and Information Center.

Furthermore, our pioneering Pet Safe program, the only program of its kind in New York State, found shelter for household pets with the cooperation of member agencies after residential fires. This gave families the comfort of knowing professionals would care for their pets until the families moved into new or temporary housing.

We also continue to help our neighbors affected by the tragic events of September 11, 2001. If you or someone you know remains in need of assistance, please call our September 11 Recover Program Family Support Specialists. They're based at our chapter headquarters in Mineola and want to help.

It is your continuous commitment to providing warmth and support to other members of our community for which we at the American Red Cross in Nassau County are thankful. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and know that you have truly made a positive difference this year. Please feel free to contact us at (516) 747-3500 or visit our Web site at www.NassauRedCross.org.

Walter Betuel

Director of Emergency Services

Resident of Franklin Square