In Case You Missed It - May 26

Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces at the Intrepid Memorial Day Weekend. (Photo: Brett Whysel)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 82 adults and 31 children following 59 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

• As a historic wave of extreme weather batters parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, hundreds have been forced to evacuate as a result of tornadoes and flooding. The Greater NY Red Cross has deployed several volunteers, including five AmeriCorps NPRC members to support the disaster relief operation underway. Thank you to our volunteers and safe travels!
• With heavy rain and severe storms expected to continue, more volunteers from Greater New York are being requested in many Red Cross activities. If you can be available for a two-week assignment, please email staffing.gny@redcross.org.
• Over the weekend, our very own Raul Rivera Nunez, Disaster Cycle Services Regional Director, deployed to Nepal to assist with ongoing earthquake relief. Raul, we wish you a safe deployment!
• Over Memorial Day weekend, Red Crossers were at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for Fleet Week. There, volunteers were handing out Service to the Armed Forces program materials along with handmade ribbons for service members. (Photos by Brett Whysel.)
• On Sunday, the Red Cross provided temporary housing and financial assistance to two families consisting of eleven adults and two infants in Staten Island after a fire destroyed their homes.
• Last Thursday, 23 Red Cross Club members from Maspeth High School participated in a First Aid/CPR/AED course and are now certified lifesavers!
• On Tuesday, nearly 30 third graders from JFK Intermediate School in Deer Park, Long Island learned about emergency preparedness as part of the Pillowcase Project, a Red Cross safety program sponsored by Disney.
• Tuesday night, Metro New York volunteers enjoyed a “Volunteers Night Out” bowling in White Plains.
• On Monday of last week, Red Cross volunteers Phil Cogan and Patty Jones helped four individuals left homeless by a 2-alarm fire in Far Rockaway, Queens.

Upcoming Events 

• 7 Days to GIVING DAY! Red Cross “Giving Day,” is our first nationwide campaign in support of our humanitarian mission. On June 2, communities across the country will come together to highlight the day-to-day impact of our organization and ask the general public for their financial support. How can you support Giving Day? Become an ambassador and help us spread the word. 
• May 26 and 29: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• May 28: Special guest, Michael Posner, will be speaking to a group of donors donors about the importance of International Humanitarian Law.
• May 30 and June 6: Volunteers are still very much needed to support the upcoming Home Fire Preparedness Campaign events on Saturday, May 30 in the Bronx and Saturday, June 6 in Staten Island. Volunteers will be working in teams to install free smoke alarms and ultimately reduce injuries and deaths due to home fires. If you’d like to volunteer for the campaign, sign up on our website by selecting “Home Fire Preparedness Campaign Volunteer.” Current volunteers should sign up through Volunteer Connection.
• June 3: The Young Professionals Council is hosting “Rally for Relief,” an evening of cocktails, great music and much more to benefit the American Red Cross Greater New York!

In Case You Missed It - May 18

Red Crossers assisting passengers at Penn Station after Amtrak derailment.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 221 adults and 42 children following 62 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Following last week’s tragic Amtrak train derailment, the Red Cross provided relief, not only in Philadelphia, but also here in NYC at Penn Station. Red Cross staff and volunteers provided mental-health, health and other support to affected passengers arriving in Manhattan by bus.
• On Sunday, the Red Cross Brooklyn Disaster Action Team was back in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) installing free smoke alarms in area homes and providing life-saving ‪fire safety‬ information‬‬ to residents. Thanks to the Jewish community and their families for their warm welcome and accommodation.
• On Saturday, our own Regional Disaster Program Officer Kelly McKinney ran in the Brooklyn Half Marathon while Red Cross volunteers lent their support to the event as medical spotters.
• Early Friday morning, following a home fire in Spring Valley, Metro New York North volunteers were called to assist more than ten displaced families with emergency financial assistance, temporary housing and referrals for longer term assistance.
• Later in the day on Friday, members of the Dutch Red Cross visited our Chapter HQ by bike, while employees from Viacom built comfort kits for returning veterans.
• Wednesday night, Red Cross volunteers responded to a fire in Yonkers and opened a relief center at the nearby Police Athletic League where multiple families were assisted.
• Also on Wednesday, our Young Professionals Committee partnered with Ivy Connect to host their second salon discussion and reception. The theme of last week’s event was, "Leadership Insights from Extraordinary Women." Among the speakers was Greater NY Red Cross board member and current President of BNY Mellon, Karen Peetz.
• On Tuesday, Red Cross volunteers from West Point were honored for their service at an annual recognition event. Check out this Time Warner Cable News story.
• On Monday, the Red Cross responded to a large fire in the Bronx that scorched two buildings. Temporary housing and emergency financial assistance were provided to five families.

Upcoming Events

• May 18: Red Cross Youth Club Members will be participating in a Missing Maps Project Mapathon at the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management.
• May 19, 22 & 23: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today. 
• May 23-24: Red Cross volunteers will be at the Intrepid during Memorial Day Weekend to distribute information about Service to the Armed Forces program.

In Case You Missed It - May 11

Briefing meeting with Metro NYN Staff and Volunteers at Disaster Volunteer Institute. (Photo: Caroline Sherwin)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 80 adults and 39 children following 47 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

• For the past several days, our Red Cross colleagues across the country have been working around the clock to support their neighbors following a severe weather outbreak that spanned several states. The Greater NY Red Cross stands ready to support these efforts as needed.
• Over the weekend, the Metro NY North Red Cross held a Disaster Volunteer Institute in Mt. Vernon to fast-track new volunteers into disaster response roles. Thank you and welcome to our new volunteers!
• As a new group of volunteers attended the Disaster Institute, Metro NY North volunteers were called to assist six families displaced by an early morning fire in Mamaroneck Village. Emergency housing and financial assistance were provided.
• Last Friday, in honor of the birthday of Red Cross founder Henry Dunant, we published a blog post entitled, “13 Things You Did Not Know About the Red Cross in NYC and Beyond.”
• On the same day, the Greater NY Red Cross received an inspiring visit from Francesco Rocco, President of the Italian Red Cross. Dr. Rocca spoke passionately about the Red Cross/Crescent Movement and awarded the Greater NY Region with a medal recognizing our disaster relief efforts.
• On Wednesday, some Red Cross staff supported the Missing Maps Project by helping to map out areas of Nepal affected by the May earthquake.
• On Tuesday, volunteers from SwissRe helped build disaster comfort kits to be distributed to local residents affected by future fires and other emergencies.
• The American Red Cross continues to support the global Red Cross response to the Nepal earthquake. Last week, additional American Red Cross resources were mobilized to aid the people of Nepal.

Upcoming Events

• May 11 & 14: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• May 12: Employees from Marsh and McLennan will be volunteering to build disaster comfort kits for those affected by local disasters.
• May 13: The Greater NY Red Cross Young Professionals Committee is partnering with Ivy Connect to host a salon discussion and reception entitled “Leadership Insights from Extraordinary Women."
• May 15: AOL employees will be taking part in a card-signing and ribbon-making event for service members.
• May 17: Viacom employees will be supporting our Service to the Armed Forces program by assembling comfort kits for veterans.
• May 16 & 17: As part of the ongoing Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, Red Cross volunteers (including D.A.R.T. Team Members) and the Tzu Chi Foundation will be in Lower Manhattan and Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. on Saturday and in Brooklyn on Sunday to install free smoke alarms. There will also be upcoming events on May 30 in the Bronx and June 6 in Queens. If you’d like to volunteer for the campaign, sign up on our website by selecting “Home Fire Preparedness Campaign Volunteer.” Current volunteers should sign up through “Volunteer Connection."

Q and A with the Italian Red Cross President

On Friday, May 8, 2015, Italian Red Cross president Francesco Rocco visited our Manhattan headquarters to learn more about our work here in Greater NY and to speak to volunteers about the impact of our shared mission. Dr. Rocco was in NYC to meet with UN representatives about the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. Below is a short Q and A with Dr. Rocca.

Francesco Rocco (L) alongside Josh Lockwood (R),
Regional CEO, Greater NY Red Cross  

Q: What does the New York Red Cross represent to you?

A: This chapter has the capacity to respond to many needs in this complex city. It’s incredible the number of operations you have every day after local emergencies…and taking care of families and providing assistance. Of course I was impressed by the huge activity you made after Sandy. This chapter in particular gives a strong meaning to the word resiliency, the capacity of the community to respond. This is something that impressed me a lot.

Q: What is the common thread between Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteers in Italy, Syria, Nepal and New York?

A: The first principle: humanity. We put the human being at the center of our action, the center of our mind and work, so we share this responsibility which unites us all in this universal mission. All around the world, and I visit a lot of nations, we always see the same commitment to be close to the most vulnerable and those most in need. So this is something that unites all of us.

Q: Do you have a message for Red Cross volunteers in Greater NY?

A: Me and my colleagues in the Italian Red Cross think the New York Red Cross chapter is a model on how to organize the services locally. I especially want to recognize the emergency response efforts, and I want to say how proud we are as a movement about the work carried out by this chapter!

To learn more about the Italian Red Cross response to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, click here.

In Case You Missed It - May 4

Mayor De Blasio greets Red Cross Volunteers at FDNY celebratory
150th anniversary open-house. (Photo: Marko Kokic)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 92 adults and 26 children following 61 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

On the 150th Anniversary celebration of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), Commissioner Daniel Nigro thanked Red Cross volunteers for their ongoing support at fires and in helping to promote fire safety.
Posted by American Red Cross in Greater New York on Monday, May 4, 2015

• Last Saturday, Red Cross volunteers, employees and partners stood alongside NYC firefighters at nearly 240 firehouses throughout the five boroughs to help celebrate FDNY’s 150th Anniversary. The Red Cross was on hand to promote fire safety and schedule more than 1000 free smoke alarm installations.
• At Engine 58 in Harlem, FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro recorded a special thank-you message for Red Cross volunteers, recognizing their past and ongoing support.
• While hundreds of volunteers from across the GNY Region helped celebrate the FDNY anniversary, eight teams of Metro NY North volunteers and staff were installing life-saving smoke alarms in FoxCroft Village, a large mobile-home community in Loch Sheldrake, N.Y.
• Thank you to all who supported these life-saving efforts this weekend: our employees, our volunteers, our corporate/community partners, including of course FDNY.
• After the massive Nepal earthquake that devastated South Asia, the American Red Cross continues to support the global Red Cross network and provide relief. Find out 3 ways you can help with the earthquake relief.
• Here in Greater NY, our International Services teams along with Red Cross disaster mental-health volunteers have been working to provide emotional support and resources to those in this region worried about loved ones in Nepal.

Upcoming Events

• May 7: In Hauppauge (Long Island), we will be training 50 members of the Carpenters Union to be Red Cross Disaster Services volunteers. Thanks to our board member William Macchione for making this possible.
• May 7 & 8: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• May 9: Red Cross Metro New York North is holding an extensive one-day Disaster Volunteer Institute in Mt. Vernon to help jump start the participation of prospective volunteers. Register today and share this teaser video!