American Red Cross - Knoxville Area Chapter: Campbell, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Union

The American Red Cross has worked side by side with the United States Armed Forces for over 100 years. The American Red Cross provides specialized services for American military and their families, which are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Servicemen and women know they can count on the American Red Cross to help them stay in touch with their families and offer assistance when emergencies arise.

Our communication and emergency financial assistance services are available to active duty military and their immediate families, reservists or National Guard on active duty and their families, military retirees or their spouse or widow(er), recruiters, and civilians employed by the United States Armed Forces. In an average year, the American Red Cross, Knoxville Area Chapter will open cases on over 800 members of the military and their families.

Reporting and Emergency Communications

In the event of an emergency, critical accident, illness or death in a service member’s immediate family, the American Red Cross should be called at once. The American Red Cross is equipped to verify the situation and relay an emergency leave request, if necessary, to proper military authorities. It is up to the commanding officer to decide whether or not to grant a leave. In an average year, the American Red Cross, Knoxville Area Chapter will send over 1600 emergency messages around the world to and from military personnel.

Emergency Financial Assistance

When an emergency arises for a service member or their family, the American Red Cross will work with military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy & Marine Corp Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance) to provide financial assistance. These funds are disbursed on the basis of need.

Information, Referral and Advocacy

The American Red Cross also helps military families cope with non-urgent problems by confidentially providing information, referral, and guidance. These services include helping military families receive assistance from other agencies and provide assistance with arranging family support.

For more information on Service to the Armed Forces at the American Red Cross, Knoxville Area Chapter, please call (865) 584–2999 or email afes@knoxarc.org.