Coinstar Locations Accepting Donations to Support Red Cross Disaster Relief Efforts Across the Nation

With tornados and floods displacing hundreds of people from the plains of the Midwest to the deep South, the American Red Cross is on the scene providing help and hope. And Americans can support victims of disasters like the recent tornadoes and floods by donating their coins at the Coinstar Center® at grocery stores or other retail locations and selecting the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The Disaster Relief Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters.

On May 11th, multiple tornadoes destroyed homes and businesses across Oklahoma, leaving thousands without power, and forced road closures due to overturned vehicles and structure damage. Red Cross workers are providing a safe place to stay, food, toiletries and clean-up items.

Meanwhile, people in Tennessee and other Southern states are still cleaning up, ripping up flooring and tearing out walls as they work on their homes after last week’s flooding and tornadoes. More than 1,100 Red Cross workers from 37 different states have shelters open, are providing meals, and distributing various clean-up items and basic necessities such as toiletries. As of May 11, the Red Cross has served approximately 190,000 meals and snacks, and distributed more than 24,000 clean-up and comfort kits.

Help people affected by disasters like the recent floods and tornadoes by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at blog.redcross.org.