Dear editor:

No complaints, criticisms or gloomy predictions from me. I'm writing to thank the people of northwest Georgia, our neighbors and fellow Americans for their extraordinary goodness — something we experience every day at the American Red Cross.

There wouldn't be a Red Cross without the many who make our work possible through their selfless generosity:

· 200 times a day, Red Cross volunteers bring hope to families who lose everything in a fire or other disaster.

· Every two seconds, someone needs blood and four million people donate theirs annually to help save lives through the Red Cross.

· 456 times a day, the Red Cross connects deployed service members with their families through a network supported by contributions.

March is American Red Cross Month. This recognition belongs to every person, business, community friend and partner whose gifts of time, money and blood are the reason we exist. On behalf of the 250 people who benefit from Red Cross services every second of every day, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Jeffrey D. Putnam, executive director, American Red Cross, Northwest Georgia Chapter