In Case You Missed It - July 24

Red Cross employees and interns participated in the Tough Mudder Long Island
obstacle course on Saturday to raise money for the SAF program.(Photo: Vivian Moy)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 149 adults and 53 children following 43 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Over the weekend, the Greater NY Red Cross held a three-day Blue Sky Summer Camp where volunteers were able to take a variety of Red Cross training courses, refreshing their knowledge while also learning new skills.
•  On Saturday, a team of our employees participated in the Tough Mudder Long Island obstacle course at Old Bethpage Restoration Village to raise money for the Red Cross.
• American Red Cross in Greater New York corporate partner Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. participated in the Home Fire Campaign on Friday by installing free smoke alarms in Harlem homes.
•  LI Red Cross CEO Neela Lockel participated in the Babylon Soldier Ride, an event created in support of veterans and wounded service members. LI Red Cross employees, board members and volunteers were there to support the riders.
•  Metro NY North Red Cross hosted their All-Hands Regional Picnic in Hawthorne on Thursday evening, while the LI Red Cross held their Summer All-Hands meeting at North Hempstead Beach Park on Tuesday evening. At both events the new Hope Starts With Us volunteer initiative was launched.
• The Greater NY Red Cross launched a video on Thursday highlighting the Pillowcase Project, a program designed to educate young children in disaster preparedness.
• The Greater NY Red Cross has partnered with Erin Patrice O'Brien, a Brooklyn-based professional portrait photographer who has been documenting the stories of Red Cross volunteers and employees. Her “take-over” of our #MyRedCrossLife Instagram series kicked-off last week.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• 7x a day, someone in the U.S. dies in a home fire. Help #EndHomeFires by joining Sound the Alarm.Save a Life., a series of home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events. In addition to installing smoke alarms, there’s also a new way to help: peer-to-peer fundraising on CrowdRise! To join the team, click on your Red Cross chapter: Greater NY, Long Island, Metro NY North 
• July 25, 27-29: Red Cross blood drives will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• July 29: The Home Fire Preparedness Campaign is coming to East Flushing and Queensboro Hill to help make the community safer one home at a time. Volunteer to help out, or sign up to get a free smoke alarm installed in your home.
• Aug 22-27: Do you like to volunteer? Do you like golf? If so, have we got an opportunity for you! Sign up today to volunteer at THE NORTHERN TRUST at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, NY. For $75, you gain daily access to the tournament for you and a guest, a logoed polo shirt and baseball cap, and much more. Plus, your efforts will support the mission of the American Red Cross. Learn more here.