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Cummings students from Mrs. Smith’s class perform.

Cummings students from Mrs. Smith’s class perform. (Photo by Brenda Fine/Courtesy of DODDS)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The holidays are a season of giving and Saturday would be a perfect day to give, Red Cross officials said Thursday.

The Kadena Red Cross is sponsoring a fundraiser outside the commissary entrance of the Kadena base exchange as part of the first American Red Cross National Day of Giving, said Jenny Vincent, Kadena Red Cross disaster services chair volunteer.

The Day of Giving is part of the national organization’s efforts to raise $100 million during its Campaign for Disaster Relief, which kicked off in September, said Rachael Kemp, the Kadena Red Cross fundraising chair volunteer.

Disaster Relief funds have been depleted from helping people after recent hurricanes and providing aid in May to victims of the earthquake in Sichuan province, China, and the conflict in Georgia in August, Vincent said.

A booth will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering free blood-pressure screenings for adults, and balloons, stickers and face painting for the kids, Kemp said.

All funds donated on Saturday’s National Day of Giving "will go toward national Red Cross disaster services; nothing goes to salaries" or anything else, she said.

Cash or check donations will be accepted, Kemp said.

Other military communities in the Pacific can check with their local Red Cross chapter for events in their areas.

People also can donate by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or visiting www.redcross.org.

Cummings students from Mrs. Smith’s class perform.

Cummings students from Mrs. Smith’s class perform. (Photo by Brenda Fine/Courtesy of DODDS)

Sure Start students Gavin Jewell, left, Caleb Adamic and Stephen Comfort perform in Cummings Elementary School’s musical “Christmas Trolls” on Thursday at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Sure Start, first- and second-graders participated in the event.

Sure Start students Gavin Jewell, left, Caleb Adamic and Stephen Comfort perform in Cummings Elementary School’s musical “Christmas Trolls” on Thursday at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Sure Start, first- and second-graders participated in the event. ()

Ian Christensen, from left, Laura Myers and McKenzie Connell perform in the musical play.

Ian Christensen, from left, Laura Myers and McKenzie Connell perform in the musical play. ()

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