The Okeechobee Service Center was established in March, 2002. In early 2001, the Florida State Service Council approached the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter with the prospect of annexing Glades and Okeechobee counties into its jurisdiction. The local Board of Directors investigated and approved an annex plan and in February 2002, the American Red Cross Board of Governors voted to officially allow Glades and Okeechobee counties to become part of the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Since there had previously been an Okeechobee Chapter operating within Okeechobee County, the decision was made to locate the new branch office in that same area. Thus the first branch office opened in a small donated room within the Okeechobee County Annex building. A Branch Manager was hired and soon afterward a larger office space was rented in a new and highly visible office complex on North Parrot Avenue. While construction was being completed on the new office, the manager worked out of the back of the DAT van in the office parking lot, and later moved into the yet unfinished office with a card table and two lawn chairs.

The Grand Opening of the Okeechobee Branch was held in March 2003 and was well attended by city and county officials as well as many of the town’s leading citizens—a testimony to the excellent service delivery of the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter and the volunteers and staff of the Okeechobee Service Center.