In Case You Missed It - Aug 31

Red Cross Volunteer Ashley Barrueco featured on RedcrossNY Instagram.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 98 adults and 20 children following 47 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Over the weekend at an event in Staten Island, the Greater New York Red Cross took part in the largest Pillowcase Project ever by joining the Southeast Louisiana Red Cross and many other Red Cross chapters from across the country commemorating the 10-year Hurricane Katrina anniversary by helping children and their families learn the importance of emergency preparedness.
• On Saturday, Metro New York North Red Crossers were out in Newburgh visiting homes and installing free smoke alarms to help make neighborhoods safer.
• On the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we took time to reflect on how the Greater New York Red Cross responded to this historic disaster and how some expressed their thanks.
• On Friday, Red Cross volunteers offered assistance to Staten Island residents forced from their home on Van Pelt Ave. after a neighboring building collapsed.
• On Thursday, we helped NYC OEM kick-off the upcoming Preparedness Month at a community fair in Lower Manhattan.
• Later that day, the Greater New York Red Cross held an instructor’s workshop teaching how to train volunteers to install smoke alarms and teach the fundamentals of fire safety.
• On Tuesday, we posted a photo and quote from Red Cross volunteer Ashley Barrueco on our recently launched Instagram account with the hashtag #MyRedCrossLife.
• On Monday, the Red Cross assisted families with temporary housing and emergency funds after a bus crashed into their residence on Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park (Queens).
• After spending more than two weeks in Saipan, our own Mass Care Supervisor, Alex Resnick posted these amazing photos as well as an update on how the typhoon recovery effort is going.

To those who volunteered after Hurricane Katrina... #redcross #katrina10 #katrina10yearslater

A photo posted by American Red Cross Greater NY (@redcrossny) on Aug 29, 2015 at 8:58am PDT

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Volunteer Services is looking for volunteers to help with recruitment, engagement and management of volunteers.
• Aug 31, Sept 1, 3: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Sep 9: The Voices of September 11 is holding a Resiliency Symposium for mental health professionals and researchers/clinicians in the fields of trauma/bereavement, as well as 9/11 families, responders and survivors.
• Sep 18 and 25: The American Red Cross, in partnership with the Manhattan VA, is offering two "Resume Writing and Job Skills Training" sessions to assist military veterans looking for employment. Both sessions will run from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The sessions will be held at the VA Manhattan campus, the deadline to register is August 28.

In Case You Missed It - Aug 24

7-year old Bronx resident and emergency preparedness pro Ilene Fuller. (Photos: Michael De Vulpillieres)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 65 adults and 36 children following 33 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Early Sunday morning, the Red Cross responded to a massive 2-alarm fire in Harlem that sent many residents and firefighters to the hospital. The Red Cross was on hand to provide emergency support to affected residents.
• Red Cross volunteers throughout the region proved their commitment to training by taking part in a shelter fundamentals exercise on Sunday that was hosted by the Metro New York North Chapter in Hawthorne, N.Y.
• On Thursday, the Red Cross picked up the second round of chairs donated by the Javits Center.
• The Red Cross posted a recap of an event on Monday that was held in partnership with the FDNY to help prepare kids in the Bronx for emergencies.
• On Monday, the Staten Island Advance promoted an upcoming Pillowcase Project event on August 29 hosted by Assemblywoman Malliotakis. The Pillowcase Project teaches children emergency preparednes.
• Early last week, it was reported that CNN anchor and a presenter at last year’s Red Cross Gala, Chris Cuomo, while boating in the Hamptons, rescued a drowning man who had been swept away by a riptide.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Aug 26, 28: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Aug 27: NYC OEM will be kicking off Preparedness Month with a community fair at 165 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn NY 11201. The Red Cross will be on hand to distribute preparedness information.
• Aug 29: On Sunday, the Pillowcase Project, a Red Cross children’s preparedness program, takes center stage with presentations in Staten Island (New York City), Mineola (Long Island) and Jeffersonville (Metro New York North).
• Sep 9: The Voices of September 11 is holding a Resiliency Symposium for mental health professionals and researchers/clinicians in the fields of trauma/bereavement, as well as 9/11 families, responders and survivors.
• Sep 18 and 25: The American Red Cross, in partnership with the Manhattan VA, is offering two "Resume Writing and Job Skills Training" sessions to assist military veterans looking for employment. Both sessions will run from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The sessions will be held at the VA Manhattan campus, the deadline to register is August 28.

In Case You Missed It - Aug 17

Long Island Red Crossers respond to small plane crash in Bethpage. (Photo: Bruce Gronich/Facebook)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 66 adults and 25 children following 35 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Early Sunday morning, the Long Island Red Cross responded to the fatal small plane crash in Bethpage by giving support to first responders and offering mental health and health services to the survivor and witnesses in the community.
• On Saturday, staff and campers of the Pierce Day Camp presented Long Island Red Cross CEO John Miller with a donation from their annual Swim-A-Cross fundraiser. Thanks to everyone at the Pierce Day Camp for your support!
• Friday was the anniversary of the 2003 East Coast Blackout. We encourage everyone to practice preparedness by taking this online preparedness course (Don’t forget to mention the Red Cross referred you).
• In a blog post, Communications Officer Michael de Vulpillieres recalled his visit to Haiti last June to one of the communities most affected by the 2010 quake to report on its progress.
• In the middle of last week, we posted a video invite by Citi to the 2015 American Red Cross Gala that will be honoring Red Cross heroes. We hope to see you there!
• On Tuesday, Metro New York North Red Cross held after action meetings with regards to the massive Peekskill fire to discuss learnings and ways to improve services.
• Regeneron held its first ever Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday at their offices. We hope there will be many more. 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Aug 18, 20: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• In the coming weeks, Red Cross will continue to canvass neighborhoods to teach fire safety and install free smoke alarms as part of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. If you are interested in a full-time leadership position to help prevent home fires in New York City, check out the following listings: Manager, Information & Planning, Lead Specialists for Brooklyn Operations and Bronx Operations.

Moving forward in Carrefour-Feuilles, Haiti

By Michael de Vulpillieres, Communications Officer, American Red Cross Greater NY Region

Home on the edge of Campeche with repairs/improvements--new roof, 
repaired walls and additional room--funded by the
American Red Cross.

Building supplies and construction equipment lined a newly-built road as I approached Campeche, one of the eight neighborhoods that comprises the community of Carrefour-Feuilles in western Port-au-Prince. It was about 7 a.m. and I was to spend the next few hours visiting one of the areas of the capital city most impacted by the 2010 earthquake.

Drainage system, retaining walls, foot path and reinforced wall/roof.
All funded by the American Red Cross.
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My tour began in the narrow walkways of Campeche, accompanied my local colleagues proudly donning their Red Cross shirts. Area residents waved and smiled at us as my guides showed me around, pointing out countless projects along the way made possible by the American Red Cross and the partners we fund—retaining walls, latrines, repaired homes, foot paths, drainage systems, bridges, water points, schools and street lamps, just to name a few. Along with this work, my colleagues also indicated where new constriction financed by the American Red Cross—a health center, public squares, a soccer field, marketplaces and more water points—will soon break ground.

This infrastructure is critical in establishing a more functional and resilient community, in part because this poor area of Port-au-Prince was in desperate need of it even before the quake. Less than 40 years ago, this hill flanked by two steep ravines was sparsely populated. But the 1970s and 80s saw the population in Campeche and other parts of Carrefour-Feuilles skyrocket with a large influx of relatively poor residents moving here and building mostly makeshift homes. A fragile infrastructure barely followed suit and the zone quickly became one of the most densely populated and disaster-prone areas of Port-au-Prince.

So when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck on January 12, 2010, Campeche along with the rest of Carrefour-Feuilles was devastated. That’s why the American Red Cross and other groups designated this area as a priority zone for infrastructure and other community revitalization projects.

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Today, local residents are leading the rebuilding effort here, with the help of organizations like the American Red Cross. The impact of such community improvement projects is obvious, but beneath the surface, beyond the bricks and mortar, Red Cross-funded youth, community preparedness, health and livelihoods programs are leaving their mark as well.

I spent the remainder of my morning with Achile, the manager of American Red Cross livelihoods programs in Carrefour-Feuilles. For two hours, he introduced me to half a dozen recipients of small business financing programs and village savings and loan associations (VSLA) made possible with American Red Cross support.

Achile, the manager of American Red Cross livelihoods programs in
Carrefour-Feuilles, talks to 2 members of a village savings and loan
association made possible with American Red Cross support.
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One of the individuals I met was Jeanneus Verdier, who joined a VSLA group in Campeche a year ago. As part of the group, neighbors pool their money over a nine month period and during this process provide loans to fellow members when needed for a small fee. Red Cross-funded partners empowered these groups with the training and other tools to make this lending possible. Verdier runs a local school and has used the money from two different loans to purchase cement for school repairs. He told me that without the loans, these improvements would not have been made. Verdier has since renewed his participation in the program.

Frantz Volma (right), beneficiary of small business financing made
possible by the American Red Cross, stands alongside Red Cross livelihood
manager Achile (left). 
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My visit ended around noon, outside of Campeche in Post-au-Prince’s city center. Across a busy street from the national soccer stadium was the La Rencontre Restaurant, owned and operated for the last eight months by a young Campeche resident, Frantz Volma. After losing his job in 2013, Volma turned to an organization financed by the American Red Cross for a small-business loan to open his own restaurant. Today, the restaurant does brisk business; the best-selling item on the menu, “Poulet National,” the national chicken and rice dish of Haiti. As Vomar tells me with sense of relief on his face, “I don’t know where I would be without this loan.”

For more information about the American Red Cross’s ongoing work in Haiti, visit redcross.org/haiti.

This past June, Michael traveled to Port-au-Prince to learn more about Red Cross programs in Haiti and to support the local Red Cross office. For more photos from Michael's visit to Carrefour-Feuilles click here.

In Case You Missed It - Aug 10

The American Red Cross Greater New York took a brief break from disasters for a BBQ.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 57 adults and 36 children following 31 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Yesterday morning, our very own Americorps member Anna Kay Ellis became the second Greater NY Red Cross staff member to deploy to the South Pacific island of Saipan to support typhoon relief efforts.
• Among the disasters the Red Cross responded to this weekend were fires in Newburgh, Highland Falls, East Islip and the Bronx. We assisted multiple families with temporary housing, emergency funds and relief supplies.
• Our wonderful partners at the Tzu Chi Foundation shared this video about working together on our home fire preparedness campaign.
• No rest for the weary! While enjoying the Greater NY Red Cross Summer BBQ, Mass Care Manager Alex Resnick learned he was immediately being deployed to the small South Pacific Island of Saipan to assist with typhoon recovery.
• Last Wednesday was National Night Out, an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. The Red Cross participated at locations throughout Metro New York North.
• Also on Wednesday night, Senator Jose Serrano hosted an emergency preparedness class with the Red Cross at the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association.
• Earlier in the week we posted photos of children learning the importance of emergency preparedness via our Pillowcase Project event that occurred at the Union Baptist Church in White Plains.
• We also posted the latest Lipica Summer Safety video; this one focused on how to treat a sunburn.
• Earlier in the week, the Greater New York Red Cross joined Instagram! Please follow us (@redcrossny) for the latest Red Cross news and information in the region.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Aug 10, 13: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• In the coming weeks, Red Cross will continue to canvass neighborhoods to teach fire safety and install free smoke alarms as part of our Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. If you are interested in a full-time leadership position to help prevent home fires in New York City, check out the following job listings: Regional Individual and Community Preparedness Manager, Manager, Information & Planning, Lead Specialists for Brooklyn Operations and Bronx Operations.

In Case You Missed It - Aug 3

Children of military families learn disaster preparedness through Pillowcase Project.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 123 adults and 53 children following 46 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Sunday afternoon, the Red Cross responded to a fire on E. 96th street in Brooklyn. Five families were assisted with temporary housing, emergency funds and referrals to city agencies to aid their road to recovery.
• Foresters Insurance employees visited the Long Island Red Cross on Saturday for Citizens Preparedness Training, a program to get NY residents better prepared for the unexpected.
• On Friday, the Javits Center donated 600 chairs to the Red Cross to be used in future disaster relief operations and at Red Cross chapters.
• On Wednesday, children of military families from Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn) stopped by the Greater New York HQ for the Pillowcase Project, a program that teaches children about emergency preparedness.
• On Tuesday, we posted a video of D.A.R.T Team Chairman, Doug Bainton reflecting on his recent deployment to Oklahoma.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Aug 5: From 12:00 pm to 1:00pm; 520 West 49th Street. Raul Rivera-Nunez, Regional Director – Planning, Readiness, & Situational Awareness, will be speaking about his recent mission to Nepal.
• Aug 5, 7, 8: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• We’re excited to announce that we’ve join Instagram! Please follow us.
• Special thanks to Deloitte, who is volunteering over 200 hours of consulting time (through our terrific board member Dorothy Alpert) to examine processes and systems that can be streamlined and to help staff and volunteers achieve a better work/life balance. 
• In the coming weeks, Red Cross will continue to canvass neighborhoods to teach fire safety and install free smoke alarms as part of our Home Fire Preparedness Campaign. If you are interested in a full-time leadership position to help prevent home fires in New York City, check out the following job listings: Regional Individual and Community Preparedness Manager, Operations Manager, Manager, Information & Planning, Lead Specialists for Brooklyn Operations and Bronx Operations.

Excited to join Instagram. Sleeves up. Hearts open. All in.

A photo posted by American Red Cross Greater NY (@redcrossny) on Aug 3, 2015 at 11:55am PDT