A Network of Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Led by 1.2 million volunteers and 30,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchanges more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families.
The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products, reaching more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation as well as assisting victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.
Click here for information about the many programs and services offered to the community by the Midway-Kansas Chapter.
Our History of Saving Lives
Founded in 1915, the Midway-Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross has been serving Wichita and South Central Kansas for more than 90 years. Its history of service to the people of Sedgwick County and surrounding counties is outstanding.
In 1917, to support the war effort and to fight a national flu epidemic that was killing thousands, the chapter, then named the Wichita Chapter, raised $123,000. During the Depression, the chapter launched a diphtheria immunization program and formed the first, official disaster preparedness committee.
In World War II, chapter volunteers rolled bandages to aid American soldiers, and children who were part of the Junior Red Cross made items for the “comfort, convenience and recreation” of members of the armed forces.
In 1965, the chapter’s disaster services were called into action when an Air Force jet tanker crashed tragically into a northeast Wichita neighborhood. One year later, the Wichita Chapter in Sedgwick County, merged with four adjacent counties: Sumner, Harper, Harvey and Kingman to form the current Midway-Kansas Chapter.
While disaster services are the heart of the American Red Cross, the Midway-Kansas Chapter is recognized nationally for its exemplary community service programs including Senior Medical Transportation, the Good Neighbor Nutrition Program, Senior Work Experience Project, Youth Services, Civilian Financial Assistance and Project DESERVE.
Residents of South Central Kansas have experienced many more natural disasters, including most recently Katrina in August 2005. Through the medical epidemics, personal tragedies and disasters of yesterday and today, the Midway-Kansas Chapter has worked with volunteers and through financial donors to help save lives. Together, with community support, the Midway-Kansas Chapter will be working to save and improve lives long into the future.