With the ease of e-mail and cell phones today, many people take regular communication for granted. But for families with loved ones stationed around the country and world, communication can be difficult and sporadic. When emergencies occur, mothers like Debbie Mason rely on the Red Cross.

Debbie Mason’s son is stationed in Hawaii. When his grandmother recently passed, she called the Red Cross right away.

“He was very close to his grandmother, and we thought he should be there for her funeral,” Debbie said. “I called the Red Cross to see what they could do to get him here.”

As part of the Services to the Armed Forces (SAF), the Red Cross links families to loved ones in the military during a crisis. Last year, the Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin sent more than 1,200 messages on behalf of families.

The service, which is available 24 hours a day and every day of the year, allowed Debbie to contact her son quickly and easily. He received the message the same day and was able to be home just a few days later.

Debbie, whose husband was also in the military, has gone to the Red Cross for support for many years and advises other families to do the same.

“Oh I would tell them, call them right away,” Debbie said. “Right away, call the Red Cross.”

In a difficult time for her and her family, the Red Cross provided Debbie with assistance, and perhaps most importantly, relief.

“It was a big relief that I could call them, and they could get my son here,” Debbie said. “I really appreciate what the Red Cross did.”

The American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin relies on donations of time and money so they can provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in Dodge, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties. To donate your time, please visit our Volunteer page. Financial donations can be made online through our secure contribution site.