On
May 9, 1917, citizens formed the Winston-Salem Chapter of the American
Red Cross, which would later evolve into the Northwest North Carolina
Chapter of the American Red Cross. From the beginning, their goal was to
provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare
for and respond to emergencies. The fledging chapter participated in
recovery efforts following the devastation of back to back hurricanes,
supported the troops involved in World War I, and responded to the
ravages of a worldwide flu epidemic responsible for over 40 million
deaths. Over the past ninety years, the Northwest North Carolina Chapter
of the American Red Cross has served, and continues to serve, all
residents of