Cherokee County Chapter of the American Red Cross is gearing up for its Annual Heroes Campaign.

Sheri Carver, chairperson, and Kurt Duryea, both with the Cherokee County Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors, outlined the 2004 campaign during a recent organizational meeting at Centre First Baptist Church. A good crowd of local team volunteers attendance.

The campaign is in football style-format, Duryea explained, divided into four quarters. The first half includes Operation Outreach, the first quarter, and the Dine Out campaign involving local restaurants, the second quarter. Third Quarter Play will kick off the Friend-raising campaign and the fourth quarter will be the Wild Card Campaign.

“Several churches have pledged to assist with single family fires,” said Duryea. “A single family fire means that a family or a household had a disaster by fire. The Red Cross provides emergency shelter, food and clothing for 72 hours after the disaster has occurred. Last year we had a total of 23 family fires which is up from 12 the previous year. The previous year cost us $595 per fire and last year it was up to more than $600. This money goes directly to our community, operation outreach, churches helping their community through serving single family fire disasters.”

The five participating teams divided up a list of local churches to approach about participating in this year’s campaign.

The Dine-Out phase of the Heroes campaign involves local restaurants who, for a certain time period, have the option of donating a portion of their profits to Red Cross, Duryea said. Duryea said Red Cross is providing waiters and waitresses at various participating establishments with special buttons promoting Red Cross and the Heroes campain.

The Friend Raising campaign, Duryea said, involves recruiting local businesses to take part in the campaign.

Currently, Duryea said, team members should concern themselves with the first three phases. Soon, however, they need to begin thinking about the Wild Card Phase, in which other ogranizations and individuals will be given a chance to participate.

For more information on the Heroes Campaign 2004, call Cherokee County Chapter of the American Red Cross at (256)927-3797