During these difficult economic times the Red Cross throughout the Central Valley must be very efficient with the dollars that are being donated. After many meetings with board leadership volunteers across the Central Valley during the last few months it became clear that jurisdictional boundaries needed to be eliminated, staffing efficiencies need to be streamlined and volunteer training opportunities need to be expanded with the ultimate goal of delivering Red Cross Mission services to all families in the community.

Officials have announced the consolidation of Mariposa, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Tulare and Kings Counties into one chapter. Its new name is American Red Cross Central Valley.

The consolidation will help make a stronger Red Cross presence throughout the entire Central Valley. The only change the community should see is increased efficiencies in American Red Cross services being delivered. There will still be three Red Cross offices with in the new chapter area - - Merced, Fresno and Visalia, and the staff has been reassigned job responsibilities.

The disaster volunteers in each of the prospective areas will still deliver response services to families in their local community. But when there is a larger scale disaster in one of the counties the Red Cross will now have the ability to use all of its material and volunteer resources to help with the sheltering and mass care response needs. It will now be able to consolidate its training resources in disaster response and offer classes that are in demand by volunteers.

The health and safety volunteers and instructors will continue to teach classes within their current communities. By leveraging resources in health and safety it will be able to expand water safety and life guard training. There will be more time for H&S staff to market programs to business and the community.

Officials will now be fund raising for "One Red Cross" throughout the Central Valley and it will be able to deliver a global reach and have a local focus.