They are always there.

When disaster strikes — whether it be a hurricane in the Gulf Coast states, ice storms knocking out power in the Northeast, or hurricanes in far off lands, they are there.

When there are house fires right here in our own community, or floods, or other crises, they are there.

Who are they?

Workers and volunteers from the American Red Cross.

Locally, the Red Cross Chapter has been particularly busy. Just over the past 10 days three house fires have displaced families, another home was severely damaged when a car struck the building. People at a local nursing home were evacuated after frozen water pipes burst and caused some ceilings to cave in.

In each case, the Red Cross was there. When families are chased from their homes by fire, the Red Cross arranges short-term lodging. When firefighters and rescue personnel help move more than a hundred nursing home patients, the Red Cross is there offering assistance.

On Saturday, when Red Cross officials returned from helping out with the evacuation, officials learned they had their own disaster — pipes in the building had frozen and then burst, causing water damage to the facility.

That, on top of the group’s busy, and expensive, January, has left the Red Cross in need.

“We’ve had a pretty expensive January. Donations are down, and we’re struggling,” said Cathy Loggins, the organization’s executive director.

She is also appreciative of the volunteer time and the money so many in the community have given to the Red Cross.

That, in turn, has allowed the Red Cross to do so much for the community.

Now is the time for that community to step up and help out just a little bit more. If every person in Surry County gave the group just $1 over the coming week, that could make a huge difference for the organization — and, in turn, be a significant help to those in need of Red Cross assistance.

There are some, to be sure, who honestly cannot afford to give even a dollar at this point in their lives. If others who are able could make it $2, or $5, to make up for those who cannot give, we suspect the Red Cross’ January struggles would come to a quick end, and those in our community who do need their emergency assistance won’t find themselves left wanting.

Will you give? This week?

We hope so.