In Case You Missed It - April 22

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 129 adults and 44 children following 63 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events. 

• This past Saturday at our Disaster Institute in Yonkers, N.Y., the Red Cross welcomed more than a dozen new volunteers to the Metro NY North team. The one-day volunteer training offered those in attendance the opportunity to take a variety of courses in order to quick start the process to becoming Disaster Services volunteer. Congrats to all our new volunteers and thank you to those who helped plan and staff the training, particularly our partners at the City of Yonkers. Click here for photos from the event.

• Also on Saturday, Red Cross volunteers were out in full force at the Staten Island Mall, talking to local residents about emergency preparedness.
   
• Last Thursday, the Red Cross launched its brand new Emergency App. This free, lifesaving resource provides expert advice on what to do in case of disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, home fires, wildfires and more. It is available in app stores for smartphones and tablets and is compatible with the Apple Watch. Learn more.
   
• In honor of National Volunteer Week, April 12 through April 19, the Red Cross invited staff from across the region to share their #RedCrossMoments. Click here to watch some of these videos.
   
• In a blog article posted last week, Long Island Red Cross volunteer Elaine Biller shared a first-person account, “Through the Eyes of a Red Cross Volunteer,” of her shift in the East Village two days after explosion.
   
• Red Cross recently honored volunteers at three separate recognition events. Check out the names of the awardees in Metro NY North, Long Island and NYC.
   
• More than three weeks after the tragic explosion in the East Village, the Red Cross continues to offer a helping hand. Last Tuesday, Red Cross volunteers distributed comfort and clean-up supplies to residents returning home for the first time.

Upcoming Events  

• Apr. 20: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
   
• Apr. 25: As part of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, volunteers will be out in Mount Vernon, N.Y. and Roosevelt, N.Y. installing free smoke detectors and talking to residents about fire safety. To learn more, email volunteerlongisland@redcross.org (Long Island) or volunteermnyn@redcross.org (Lower Hudson Valley).

• Apr. 26: Red Cross volunteers will be in front of the Staten Island Mall, 7am to 3pm, talking to residents about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross. 

• Apr. 26: As part of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, volunteers will be out in Washington Heights installing free smoke detectors and talking to residents about fire safety. To learn more, email volunteernyc@redcross.org.

• May 9: Disaster Institute. The Red Cross is holding another intensive volunteer training day, this time in Mount Vernon, N.Y. To learn more including how to sign up, click here.