The Old Blog in the Desert

The American Red Cross

Once, the American Red Cross was a name that inspired confidence, a mighty force of good that swept into disaster zones with blankets, food, and the promise that someone still cared. But like many fine things of yesteryear—honest politicians, reliable automobiles, and one-cent candies—the Red Cross of today bears little resemblance to its former self.

The northern Nevada chapter has announced yet another change of the guard, with Bridget Posson stepping in as executive director to replace Tiandra Rushing, who has not yet found another job–but would rather be unemployed than continue in her role. That alone should tell you something.

The transition comes hot on the heels of troubling questions about how much assistance—if any—the Red Cross provided to victims of the Davis Fire in Washoe Valley last September.

Folks seeking shelter and support from the esteemed organization found the assistance disappointing.

According to fire victim Hannah Hoobyar, those in need were handed snack-sized bags of chips and left to figure out the rest. It’s a hearty meal, indeed—if you’re a bird.

When pressed for details about how donations for the Davis Fire got spent, the Red Cross declined on-camera interviews, declined to provide documentation, and declined, it seems, to offer much of anything at all. Spokesperson Keith Paul explained at the time that assistance funds were not necessarily used for the Davis Fire directly because there was no specific fundraising designation for the blaze.

So, no one knows where the money went.

Rushing herself admitted frustration with how the Red Cross operates, saying the focus on local disasters wasn’t what it was supposed to be.

“I believe in the mission,” she said, “but the delivery not so much.”

It’s a polite way of saying while the Red Cross still knows how to ask for money, its ability to turn those funds into meaningful help has grown a bit rusty.

Posson has expressed enthusiasm for her new role, declaring she’s focused on helping those in need. If she can manage to do that, it would be a refreshing change of pace.

The Red Cross was once a name that meant something—perhaps under new leadership, it may still find its way back to the days when disaster relief meant more than a handful of potato chips and an empty promise.