Charlotte, NC - When neighbors are in need, they turn to the Red Cross. And in order to meet those needs, the Red Cross depends upon its benefactors.

On Tuesday, May 1, the Greater Carolinas Red Cross officially dedicated the Katherine Harper Disaster Staging Area as part of the Sadie Fowler Disaster Center in Charlotte, N.C.

Ron and Katherine Harper were among key players in the creation of the Disaster Center. The Harpers, owners of Harper Corporation of America, which pioneered the successful use of industrial plasma flame-spraying technology for anilox rolls, provided money for the creation of a staging area within The Sadie Fowler Disaster Center.

This center is unique in that it is only one of a dozen facilities of its kind among Red Cross Chapters nationwide. The disaster center, which offers state-of-the art capabilities, and is staffed by 1,800 trained volunteers, enables the Greater Carolinas Red Cross to respond more quickly and efficiently to neighbors in need. It also provides a place for community residents to learn emergency preparedness so that they too may help their neighbors and save lives. Both Mecklenburg and Iredell County count on the Greater Carolinas Red Cross to be there when disaster strikes.

The Katherine Harper Disaster Staging Area provides 2,000 square feet of multi-use space for storing, loading and deploying disaster equipment and supplies.

The Disaster Center is a revolution in disaster response. The facility would not exist without the generosity of community leaders like the Harpers. Through their kindness, the Harpers inspire goodwill and friendship toward the Greater Carolinas Chapter and the residents of Mecklenburg and Iredell County.

The Harpers not only helped improve the quality of disaster response issued by the Greater Carolinas Chapter but helped improve the lives of their neighbors when disaster strikes.

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors-across the street, across the country and across the world-in emergencies.

Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new-the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through more than 800 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood-the gift of life-through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected.

Locally, over 2,300 people in need after a disaster turned to their neighbors familiar and new-the nearly 3,500 volunteers and 51 employees of the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the Red Cross. Through the Greater Carolinas Chapter, more than 53,000 people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes. Free trips to medical appointments for over 17,000 people are provided, some 51,000 "life-saving" units of blood were donated, 38,000 pamphlets on safety and preparedness are distributed and over 1,470 U.S. service members separated from theirs families stay connected through the Greater Carolinas Chapter.

For further information, please contact Jazmin Kluttz at 704-588-3371 or jkluttz@harperimage.com.