Socially Conscious Gifts for the Discriminate Shopper Available at American Red Cross Online Store

Perfect gift for the ‘hard to buy for, has everything and doesn’t want a thing’ available at www.redcross.org

WASHINGTON, Thursday, November 04, 2004 — Safety and security are among the best presents anyone can give their loved ones this holiday season, according to American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans. Recognizing how difficult it is to capture and gift wrap “safety,” the Red Cross store at www.redcross.org helps consumers give this elusive, but essential gift – while supporting the nation’s leader in disaster response, lifesaving training and blood collection.

As the holiday season approaches and frazzled consumers comb through sales pages and scour online sites for the “perfect” gift for loved ones, the Red Cross offers this convenient, yet practical solution for those relatives and friends “who have everything” or “don’t want a thing.”

“The gift of safety is indeed a ‘safe gift.’ It never goes out of style, it does fit, and it is something one can never have too much of,” pointed out Scott Conner, Vice President of Preparedness. The Red Cross online store features preparedness kits for families and individuals, first aid kits for the home, car and office, quick reference guides that detail basic first steps for emergency situations and funky vintage gifts.

Looking for the perfect gift...

• For the hip and happening?
  • Buy a Red Cross vintage T-shirt. This hip shirt was most recently seen on Josh Coxx who plays “Peter Riggs, R.N.” on the popular Lifetime series, Strong Medicine. It was also worn by Julianne Moore in the August 23 issue of US Weekly Magazine.
  • Snag an authentic World War II knit kit for a knitting enthusiast. This kit includes specially dyed yarn to match the color used in “knit your bit” kits from the original Red Cross effort and is packaged in a retro tin.
• For families with young children?
  • Everyone needs a first aid kit, but families with young children especially need to stash a well-stocked kit in their car and home. The Red Cross first aid kit meets the highest safety standards and is approved by the Advisory Council on First Aid and Safety.
  • In addition to such supplies, a family needs the technical information for an emergency. Whether it’s a bruised knee or a bee sting, the Red Cross quick reference guide covers the first steps to follow and whether additional medical assistance is needed.
• For those who have everything?
  • While they may seem to have everything, chances are that they don’t have a three-day emergency preparedness kit. This all-in-one kit designed for all types of emergencies reminds loved ones that they are indeed treasured.
• For the last-second gift exchange?
  • Every holiday, shoppers are taxed with purchasing gifts for someone they don’t know too well, yet deserve a token of appreciation. Whether it’s the mailman, a teacher or the daughter-in-law’s parents, the Red Cross Safety Tube fills that need. Stock up on this convenient tube filled with a dust mask, water packet, light stick and whistle – safety on the go! Tie this to the top of a present, buy extras for “fill-in” gifts, or hand it out to all of your co-workers.

The Red Cross has a goal of making preparedness easy, convenient and accessible to all. With the goal of preparing more families and individuals for the unexpected, the Red Cross store will feature free shipping on purchases over $99. Visit the online store at www.redcross.org.

** To request a sample product or electronic image, please call 202-303-4260 or email markam@usa.redcross.org. **

Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and keeps U.S. military families connected worldwide. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.