Citizens in

the south metro area, through the American Red Cross, have played an important

part in this unprecedented effort. "It's been very inspiring to see

the tremendous outpouring of donations from people here in our area,"

said Ruben Brown, American Red Cross, South Metro Service Center director.

"Thousands of donors, giving blood and money, all to help Americans

they will most likely never meet is something for which we at the Red

Cross will be forever grateful."

Brown also

noted that all donations to the Red Cross are put to immediate use helping

victims and their families. "People should know their money is already

hard at work helping those in need," he said. Metro Atlanta Red Cross

donations, which include those from Clayton, Fayette, Henry and Butts

Counties, totaled more than 20,000 units of blood three times the response

that officials hoped for when setting local goals for the 10 days following

Sept. 11.

During that

same period, financial donations have empowered the Red Cross to provide

1,019,420 meals and snacks; set up 54 shelters for almost 3,700 people;

send 70 emergency response vehicles from around the country to the two

disaster sites and coordinate and support the efforts of more than 13,700

volunteers.

"With

the help of many volunteers, we also provided aid to hundreds of stranded

travelers, helped with funerals and other unexpected expenses and provided

mental health and grief counseling to more than 18,900 people so far,"

said Brown. "Of course, those statistics are national ones, but local

donors should know that they have been a vital part of this magnificent

effort. Those of us from the Red Cross are extremely grateful for their

boundless generosity."

The need for

recovery assistance will last for a long time, according to Red Cross

officials. There will be a continuing need for blood and monetary donations.

For blood donor information, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. Monetary donations

can be made by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW or visiting the Red Cross Web site:

www.redcrossatlanta.org . Current blood donor locations also are

listed online.