Monday will be a special day for the Freeborn County Chapter of the American Red Cross with an open house from 2 to 7 p.m. at the newly completed building addition at 1608 W. Fountain St.

The open house will also be celebrating the 90-plus years the Albert Lea Red Cross unit has served the area.

Two of the projects that completed the expansion for the Red Cross building were the exterior landscaping and a planter created by volunteers from Albert Lea’s Home Depot.

This area unit of the American Red Cross has been located at the former pharmacy building next to what was once known as the West Clinic since February 2002. These new quarters provided office space, a small classroom and facilities needed to store supplies to be used for emergency situations.

As a result of the expansion project, 42 feet were added to what had been a 46 foot wide building. Thus there’s now more space for the office and a much larger classroom and meeting area.

“The purchase of the building and the remodeling and addition were made possible as the result of a bequest from the Jerdet family,” was the explanation made by Imogene (Jeanie) Opdahl who has been the chapter’s executive director for the past five years.

“(The Red Cross is) mandated by Congress but not funded by federal, state, city or county money. Our donations and support comes from people in the community,” she added. And one of those ways is through the United Way’s yearly campaigns.

Through the years, the local chapter has provided specialized training for lifeguards at the city beach and other swimming places, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), babysitting, first aid, and disaster situations. The local chapter also coordinates arrangements for visits by the Red Cross bloodmobile. Opdahl added that the lifeguard training for certification purposes takes place at the Albert Lea Family Y, especially during the winter months.

Also, through the years, the local chapter has been located in various places around the city. The first place was reportedly in the basement of the Freeborn County Courthouse. This, however, has not been confirmed. Other locations have been in the lower level of the First National Bank (now the Shoff Building), the Lea Center, a building near the corner of South Washington Avenue and West William Street, and at the present location since 2002. Opdahl is interested in any information available about other locations which may have been used by the local Red Cross chapter during the past 90 years.

Opdahl said the Red Cross works on mutual aid. Thus, if there’s a need elsewhere, the local unit will respond. She specifically mentioned Gordon Lewis who has gone to Parkersburg, Iowa, for the second time, and Steve Bonine who is in Nebraska to help with tornado disaster assistance.

Still another way the Red Cross really serves the area people is to be a communication link between members of the nation’s armed forces and their families in emergency situations.

Highlights of Monday’s open house will be memorabilia items, old uniforms and mannequins, news articles from the past about local Red Cross activities, splint makers and other equipment. Also on display will be the large mural created by artist Lloyd Herfindahl in 1981 which depicts the history of the Red Cross. Coffee and cake will be served.

“We’re always looking for volunteers and board members,” Opdahl said.

American Red Cross is an important part of everyday American life

Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.