Red Cross offers new tractor to support local military partner

ANCHORAGE — The American Red Cross of Alaska donated a new John Deere tractor with a snow blower attachment and tire chains to Alaska Fisher House.

According to a recent press release, the donation was offered through the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces grants program designed to supply community partner organizations with mission-supporting gifts.

“The gift from the Alaska Red Cross is simply priceless,” JBER Fisher House Manager

Theresa Nedrow stated in the press release. “It is a resource that will ensure our team and guests are safe during the next winter season. The relationship between the American Red Cross of Alaska and the Fisher House is just special. There is something remarkable about two organizations having the same heart.”

The Alaska Fisher House is located on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. It's designed to offer home-like accommodation to family members while active-duty service members, retirees, and veterans receive care at military medical treatment facilities.

According to the press release, the Red Cross offers steady support to Fisher House residents through services such as twice-monthly meals, therapy dog visits, and mission-supporting equipment.

“We hope that this gift will help strengthen this partnership between the Red Cross and the Fisher House and all of our amazing programs that we partner with to support our military members and veterans across the state,” Service to the Armed Forces Manager Melody Hansen stated in the press release.

The Red Cross has deep roots in military service that continues to this day. According to the press release, the organization was founded on the battlefield through Clara Barton’s care for Civil War soldiers.

Today, the Red Cross supports the U.S. military “from the time a service member takes the oath to navigating life as a veteran.”

The press release indicated that the Red Cross offers over 513,000 services to members of the military, veterans, and their families by leveraging a network of volunteers across the world.

For more information about The American Red Cross of Alaska, visit redcross.org/local/alaska.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com