In 1917, as World War I drew to a close, many Red Cross chapters were founded throughout the United States, including Norfolk, Princess Anne County and the Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapters. These chapters provided both social services for returning servicemen and financial support for victims of disasters at home and elsewhere in the country. As attention shifted from the war, emphasis was placed on public health issues as volunteer nurses staffed tuberculosis and venereal disease clinics.  Later, during a devastating influenza epidemic in 1918 the Red Cross provided trained nurses to assist in local hospitals and set up soup kitchens to feed those hit hardest by the epidemic.

              The post World War I era also resulted in the establishment of several of the best-known programs of the Red Cross.  The Norfolk Chapter established the Water Safety Program in 1925, in response to public outrage over the large number of people who had drowned in the Ocean View area.  Meanwhile, the Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter was providing First Aid and Life Saving training to the City Police and Fire Departments. And, both chapters where putting together a disaster program to help raise money for victims of local disasters.     

              In the 40s, under the leadership of Dr. Albert V. Crosby, the Red Cross rose to the challenge of World War II, with more than 27,000 local volunteers producing 1.7 million knitted and sewn garments, ditty bags, and surgical dressings. During this war, the Red Cross truly became a beacon for servicemen both overseas and for their families here at home.  Volunteers cared for the sick and wounded on the battlefields of Europe, and when they returned home Gray Ladies gave their time to nurse veterans back to health.  The Motor Corps Service trained volunteers to transport medical, civilian, and military personnel, and to operate ambulance. In September 1949, through the efforts of Tidewater Chapter Board Member Dr. Southgate Leigh, Jr., the Tidewater Regional Blood Services was established to service residents of Eastern Virginia and North Carolina. This was the largest peacetime project ever undertaken by the Red Cross.

              In the 1950s and 1960s health and safety programs expanded and a national standardization of First Aid and CPR was created. At the same time, the Red Cross continued its dedication to Armed Forces Services through the Korean and Vietnam Wars.  On July 1, 1965, the Norfolk and Virginia Beach City (formerly Princess Anne County), chapters merged to form the Tidewater Chapter, serving the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and eastern Chesapeake. With this merger, services were provided from offices in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, the Norfolk Naval Base, and the Virginia Beach office located adjacent to Lynnhaven Mall.  The increased space provided for increased health and safety instruction and blood collections.

              Expansion of Blood Services in the 70s was made possible through the vision of Roy R. Charles and the construction of the Roy Charles Red Cross Center on Brambleton Avenue in Norfolk.  Today, the American Red Cross is the largest and safest provider of blood and blood products in the United States. The 1970s and 1980s also brought medical advances that expanded use of blood and blood products to treat patients suffering from life-threatening illnesses.  With the emergence of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, the Red Cross found new ways to  test the safety of the blood supply.

              The 1990s saw an alarming increase in children born to young, single mothers.  These women were desperate for pregnancy and parenting information.  The Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter rose to the challenge by designing and delivering new courses tailored to the local population’s needs.  Other new health and safety programs included babysitter’s training and workplace safety training available through both chapters.  In 1993, as a result of nationwide restructuring, the Tidewater Chapter was selected to be the Lead Disaster Unit for the Virginia/DC consortium – thus establishing the Tidewater Chapter’s leadership role in disaster preparedness and response activities statewide. In 1998 the Tidewater Chapter Board of Directors created an Enhance and Expand Task Force to identify and establish a new program area to meet an unmet community need, as well as to enhance existing programs.  As a result, the Chapter opened an Adult Dental Clinic at Park Place on May 1, 1999 to provide much needed dental care to indigent and working poor adults in Norfolk.

              In the 2000s both Chapters continue to teach people how to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.  We respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Health and Safety programs continue to be new and innovative.  And the Red Cross was one of the first organizations approved by the state to provide AED (automated external defibrillator) training.

              In January 2003, both the Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter and the Tidewater Chapter merged to become The Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia, which allows us to even better serve our expanded community.  

              The American Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia currently has four offices which are located in Virginia Beach on Providence Road, the Portsmouth Office, located on London Street, the Naval Base Office located on 14th Street, and the Norfolk Office, located on Brambleton Avenue.

              Our chapter, as in our past, proudly continues the great Red Cross tradition of helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.