March is National Red Cross Month and the Black Belt American Red Cross invites you to “join them” for their third annual “Mayors of the Black Belt Charity Ball” scheduled for March 31.

The event, to be held at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center at 6:30 p.m., will cost $50 for singles, $75 for a couple and $300 for a party of eight.

Jakki Caldwell-Phillips, executive director for the Black Belt American Red Cross, said the event is “noteworthy” and “tax deductible.”

“Red Cross depends on the generosity of our community to fulfill our mission,” Phillips said. “Fundraisers of this caliber help us to keep the communities we serve safer and stronger. This offers individuals and businesses an opportunity to be community-spirited and have a great time doing so.”

For more than 130 years the Red Cross has been teaching lifesaving skills, responding to disasters and giving blood donations to those in need. Nationally, the organization responds to nearly 200 disasters a day and provides blood products and supplies to more than 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country.

Last year, the Black Belt Office, which serves Marengo, Perry, Wilcox and Dallas counties, provided more than $37,000 in financial assistance to victims, responded to 107 disasters and collected 1,289 units of blood.

Selma Mayor George Evans said the ball, which has been an annual success, is all about “unity” and helping a good cause.

“The Red Cross has been hit by so many disasters and we know that every little bit helps,” Evans said. “All of the mayors of the Black Belt are coming together for a time of fellowship and networking and we want this event to be even bigger. We all need a little help.”

Tickets can be purchased no later than March 25 from Truax & Company, The Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce, the Black Belt Red Cross Office and Calhoun Foods. For more information call 874-4641.