What is the relationship between the MRC and the American Red Cross?
At a national level, the two organizations are separate yet cooperative. There is some overlap in the ways in which the MRC and ARC can respond to various disasters, but these two entities have different missions. (See ARC for more about the Red Cross.) At the local level, the Upper Merrimack Valley MRC and the Merrimack Valley chapter of the American Red Cross enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship. The ARC provides several classes to UMV members free of charge. If the ARC needs extra volunteers in setting up and running an emergency shelter, they are invited to call the MRC staff for additional support. See the Partners section for more detail about relations between the MRC and affiliates.
At a national level, the two organizations are separate yet cooperative. Both the MRC and ARC include disaster response among their top priorities. There is some overlap in the ways in which the MRC and ARC are deployed, yet these two entities have different missions. (See www.RedCross.org to learn more about the Red Cross, and www.MedicalReserveCorps.gov for details on the MRC.) The primary focus of the MRC is on emergency preparedness – through responses to public health emergencies and mass casualty incidents – as well as community service programs. Each MRC unit adapts to the needs of its local communities. The MRC system is relatively new, with the first grants issued in July 2002. By contrast, ARC activities include blood drives, swimming lessons, and educational programs, as well as disaster response. Their initiatives throughout the country adhere to national ARC standards. This organization has been in place for over a century. Regionally, some MRC and ARC groups interact more
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