1917

The Winston-Salem Chapter of the American Red Cross was organized on April 19, 1917.  Thirty-six members signed the petition that was sent to Washington and included volunteers from a variety of sources that cut across social, economic, and education lines.  Names of the organizers, leaders, and workers can be found in records through the years and today, you can find their descendants carrying on the same volunteer spirit.  On May 9, 1917, the local unit was recognized with a charter certificate of membership by the National Red Cross.

Upon motion, a membership drive was set for May 8th and the city was divided into twelve sections and a chairperson was named for each section.  Col. Henry E. Fries, Chairman, gave an extensive report on a meeting called in Washington by President Wilson of the National Red Cross.  Fries outlined plans presented during the meeting for a fund raising campaign for June 18-25, 1917.  The Winston-Salem Chapter Headquarters was set up in the Hanes Building on Fourth Street.  The first fundraising campaign collected $140.26 from tickets sold for a lawn fete given in Grace Court by Miss Bertie Follin.

While plans proceeded for the membership drive, the members prepared bandages, garments for men in the hospitals, and later obtained wool for making sweaters, mufflers, socks, and wristlets.  Taking advantage of whatever opportunity came their way to get the Red Cross message to the public, the chapter took part in the June 1917 flag day exercises and parade directed by the Elks.

Board and committee meetings were held frequently in June and the Winston-Salem Chapter took part in the War Campaign Fund drive in July to help raise $100,000,000 for the United States fund.  After having expanded into a district organization that included such communities as Kernersville, Rural Hall, Walkertown, Lewisville, and Clemmons, the members were asked to raise $50,000 to do their part for the War Campaign fund.  Fourteen team reports listed pledges totaling $49,947.60, only $52.40 short of their goal.

In August, efforts were concentrated largely on production.  Our chapter's  first shipment of pillow cases, socks, bandages and gauze pads were sent to regional headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and Regional Director, Asa G. Chandler, Jr., said they were "beautifully made and well packed."

By November, thoughts turned to service men who would not be getting packages from relatives or friends.  The Winston-Salem Chapter sent out twenty fruit cakes, boxes of tobacco, and 604 Christmas parcels containing gifts to those men.

1918

By May 1, 1918, the district membership had increased to 10,754 members.  The extension of activities prompted the need for a chairperson of the Motor Corps, a director of hygiene, dietetics, home nursing, and first aid, and a chairperson to enroll nurses.

Until October of 1918, the community was busy in Red Cross circles providing for men in service and meeting emergency needs at home for local families.  During the preceding month, two clothing drives for Belgium had brought generous contributions far beyond expectations of collectors.

Then, the Spanish influenza struck with a vengeance.  Soon it reached epidemic proportions.  First, the Red Cross was called on to recruit nurses from other locations to augment the overworked nurses and doctors in local hospitals, who worked far beyond scheduled hours, sometimes around the clock.  The Winston-Salem Chapter set up space in local churches, schools, and even some members offered their homes to the overflow of patients that could not be taken into overcrowded hospitals.

1920

With the end of World War I, Red Cross interests turned to health in the community.  The chapter approved a purchase for a Ford sedan to be used by the nurse for $1,025 in March of 1920.  The safety-minded board specified that it must have a starter - a device that in those days was considered very special equipment.

1923

In 1923, the Winston-Salem Chapter was one of the first organizations to join the Community Chest of Forsyth County, now known as the United Way of Forsyth County.  Our local Red Cross Chapter employees and volunteers continued the work in the community to help families in need.

1935

A new Red Cross program called "Home and Farm Accident Prevention" is established.  Its purpose is to disseminate information about the common accident hazards that exist in homes and on farms.

1939

Chapter volunteers knitted 34 sweaters for patients in Veterans' Hospitals; they sent 35 sweaters and 43 woolen dresses abroad for civilian refugees; and they sent 30 bags filled with Christmas gifts to soldiers and sailors stationed overseas.

1942

Miss Mary Roper came to the Winston-Salem Chapter as Executive Director in June and worked untiringly until June 1952.

1948

The Motor Service furnished transportation for various Red Cross services and for public welfare agencies of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.  Patients were transported to the hospitals and to Graylyn Speech and Remedial Reading Clinics.  They filled the needs of the Red Cross blood program and also participated in three parades during the past year.

1950

This year, 96 men of the local fire department were eligible to wear the emergency first aid service insignia indicating that they were now trained in the Red Cross standard and advanced courses.  Each qualified first aider is trained to render emergency aid to victims of fire and accident.  

Our chapter was happy to report that Lewisville School's Safety Patrol of thirty-one boys took Junior First Aid and that was the first patrol to complete the training.

1951

The blood program started at the chapter on May 24, 1951. The purpose of the program was three-fold; "to collect, process and distribute blood and blood derivatives for community, defense, research, disaster and national emergency needs."  

The Junior Red Cross sent school supplies to students in the Forsyth County Tuberculosis Sanatorium, supplied hospitals & institutions with holiday favors, decorations, magazines and comic books, and supplied books for the Crippled Children's Center.  They also promoted International friendships by shipping gift boxes abroad to a school in the flood area of Italy.  Other volunteers staffed the Red Cross booth at the Civil Defense Exhibit and the Mobile X-ray unit.

1953

The Gray Ladies visited the Forsyth County Home at least once a week and worked at the Baptist Hospital Blood Bank on Sundays.  This group was made up of business women who were unable to give volunteer hours during the day, but were glad to give evenings, Saturdays and Sundays to volunteer work.  The Gray Ladies also served as ushers at the evening meeting of Nurses Services' Jane Delano Day Program.

The Nurse's Aides have given invaluable service at the Red Cross Bloodmobile.  They assisted the nurses in the donor room as well as taking temperature and pulse.  These Aides also helped at Baptist Hospital by feeding patients, giving bed baths, writing letters for patients and giving other personal care.

1954

On February 8 at about 2 p.m., a fire broke out in a family apartment building and rapidly spread to an adjacent building.  By 6 p.m. that night, the Red Cross had all eight families settled in a temporary housing with food and clothing. There was a big push to "waterproof" Forsyth County by holding a street parade to introduce the "Learn to Swim" program, with more than a thousand persons attending.  An instructor's course in Life Saving and Water Safety was conducted with 24 persons passing the required test and receiving their certificates.

1962

In 1962, the Winston-Salem Chapter became known as the Forsyth County Chapter.

1967-1968

The chapter completed a capital campaign and construction on its current facility at 690 Coliseum Drive .  The cost of the new building was $325,000 after the construction, paving, carpeting and furnishing.. 

1969

We were asked by WSJS Television to sponsor a First Aid series during their morning show.  We invited two of our neighboring chapters, High Point and Greensboro, to help participate with us.

The four institutions of higher learning in Winston-Salem enrolled forty international students and had twelve international professors on staff (25 countries were represented).  The chapter welcomed all and their family members to a sponsored dinner party to discuss international services offered by the American Red Cross.

The following appeared in a February 13, 1969 release from National Headquarters: "In the largest Red Cross activity, service to the armed forces and veterans, one in every three members of the U.S. Armed Forces has received help from Red Cross."

1970

Red Cross First Aid courses become very significant with the enactment of the 1970 Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). Executive Director, Mrs. James (Lois) DeHart, explained that one in four employees in industry must complete a first aid training course as required by OSHA.  The Red Cross Forsyth Chapter was providing a multi-media course geared to assisting the industries to comply with OSHA.  Mrs. DeHart said the Red Cross' purpose could be summarized in the organization's slogan - "Neighbor Helping Neighbor."

1972

Thirteen Red Cross youth delegates sent to Camp Betty Hastings for leadership training.  The delegates created a program called REACH (recreation, education and child healthcare).

1982

In 1982, the chapter board participated in the building approval of the Winston-Salem Blood Center next door to the chapter house.

1983

Davie and Yadkin counties join the Forsyth County Chapter and the chapter officially becomes known as the Northwest North Carolina (NWNC) Chapter.

1988

Our four-county jurisdiction is rounded out when the Stokes County Chapter and the NWNC Chapter are merged.

1989

The Chapter offers a series of AIDS education classes in conjunction with the National Urban League.  The purpose of the six-week instructor course it to train volunteers to present factual information on HIV/AIDS to the public in a non-judgmental and culturally sensitive manner.

Hurricane Hugo slams our four-county jurisdiction with power lines down for up to a week.  Shelters are opened and volunteers assist victims with immediate needs.

1992

William (Billy) E. Baxter, executive director, announced changes in the blood program allowing senior citizens over 75 years of age to donate blood.

The chapter helps to provide relief to flood victims in the sister counties of Avery, Guilford, Mitchell, Montgomery and Surry.  Forty families were assisted with emergency food, clothing and shelter.  Also, Hurricane Andrew hits southern Florida and chapter volunteers are sent to help over 180,000 homeless Floridians.  A Red Cross service center was opened at the American Legion building in King after a tornado damaged 132 houses in Stokes County.

1994

Marcia Z. Cole is hired as the new executive director of the Northwest North Carolina Chapter and continued to serve until early 2006.

1995

NWNC Chapter volunteers go to Oklahoma to assist victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing.  The blast caused severe damage to not only the Alfred Murrah Federal Building, but to buildings as far away as six blocks, including a 200-unit apartment complex.

1999

Hurricane Floyd hits the eastern part of North Carolina and leaves many communities isolated from resources until the flood waters recede.  Volunteers from the NWNC Chapter respond to help and spend many weeks assisting the victims.

2001

The chapter is inundated with thousands of potential volunteers and blood donors when the 9-11 events unfold.  Local volunteers are sent to New York to serve in different capacities wherever they are needed.  WXII-TV holds a telethon for the American Red Cross to help the families and victims of 9-11.

2004

The Red Cross provides services to victims of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan; this includes the major flooding in 29 North Carolina counties, including Stokes County in our jurisdiction.

2005

WXII-TV holds a telethon for the American Red Cross for victims of the Indonesian tsunami.  The NWNC Chapter collaborates with other nonprofit organizations in “Project Welcome” to assist with the needs of evacuees who fled to the Piedmont after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita left many homeless.  

2006

Hugh J. Quinn becomes the executive director of the Northwest North Carolina Chapter.  He has served with the Red Cross since 1979 in various positions in North Carolina, Florida, Alabama and Connecticut. 

The chapter has three major apartment fires in three months; Colony Apartments, Springhouse Apartments and 96 Ardsley.

2007

The Chapter celebrated its 90^th anniversary on May 9^th with a luncheon for descendants of the founding families as well as many former board chairs including Lawrence Reid who is 90 and was chair in 1952-1953.  In addition, the chapter provided free coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts to citizens in Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, and Yadkin counties during the week long celebration.