Red Cross Merger Expected To Improve Silver Valley Service

The Shoshone County and Panhandle chapters of the American Red Cross merged this month, a move expected to improve disaster services in the Silver Valley.

The Panhandle Chapter, based in Coeur d’Alene, previously served only Kootenai and Benewah counties. Its paid staff will provide continuity and improve communications for the all-volunteer operation in Shoshone County, said manager Carol Hall.

“We have a wonderful relationship,” Hall said Thursday. “We’ve been working closely with them, especially since last year’s flood.”

Besides disaster services, the merged chapters will provide more health and safety classes in Shoshone County, Hall said.

The merger has been in the works for a year, she said, and will allow for centralized recruiting of volunteers. It represents a national trend away from a Red Cross chapter for every county in the country, Hall said. The Benewah and Kootenai chapters combined two years ago.

, DataTimes