In Case You Missed It - Nov 26

Long Island Red Crossers handing out supplies to homeless veterans at the Freeport Armory

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 120 adults and 43 children following 52 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• Throughout the past Thanksgiving week hundreds of Red Cross volunteers, including local team members Garrison (from our reunification team) and Hannah (disability specialist), were on the ground providing shelter, food, and comfort to those affected by the California wildfires. 
• Our Communication Officer Mike de Vupillieres, who was recently stationed in Butte County, California shared a video of wildfire evacuee Klyda Flanders. Klyda, who lost her Paradise home to the blaze, shared with Mike the harrowing experience of fleeing in her car to safety and recognized all those who helped her since. 
• Yesterday, Red Cross volunteers Litt Anderson, Gary Porto, and Ruben Santiago from the Metro New York North Chapter provided emergency assistance to four families displaced by a home fire in Peekskill. 
• Several of our team members from Greater New York are helping deliver hope and help after Typhoon Yutu struck the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. We are grateful for their service! 
• Watch a special Thanksgiving message from our Regional CEO Josh Lockwood. Thank you to all the Red Crossers who spent their holiday volunteering! 
• On Wednesday our emergency preparedness team was at Staten Island Technical High School providing life-saving training to their entire student body of over 1300 students. Thank you to Councilman Steven Matteo for his partnership and for inviting the Red Cross to his district. 
• We stand in solidarity with Cruz Roja Mexicana Sede Nacional who lost a volunteer during an aid distribution last week. Six other Red Crossers were injured in the attack. Aid workers around the globe face increasing threats to their safety. Humanitarians are not a target.
• Tuesday in Long Island Red Cross volunteers handed out supplies to homeless veterans as part of our Services to the Armed Forces program. This included hand-woven blankets that volunteers have been working on for the past year for this occasion. 
• Red Cross volunteers, in partnership with Councilman Donovan Richards, the FDNY, the FDNY Foundation and National Grid installed nearly 200 life-saving smoke alarms in the Rockaways on Monday. 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities 

• Nov 26, 27, & 30: 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!  
• Nov 27: Celebrate Giving Tuesday and donate to the American Red Cross. Your gift makes a difference. Without you, our work simply would not be possible. 
• Dec 13: Join the Red Cross Young Patrons at their Holiday Soirée: a night of conversation, drinks, live music and general holiday cheer at the beautiful and historic Players Club in Gramercy Park. To purchase tickets, click here! 

In Case You Missed It — Nov 19

Red Cross volunteer providing care and comfort to Bonnie who had to evacuate her home in Paradise, California

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 86 adults and 36 children following 49 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• Local NY Red Crossers are on the ground in Northern California at shelters for wildfire evacuees to manage food and supplies and provide mental and physical health services. Our Greater New York Communications Officer Mike de Vulpillieres is stationed in Butte County and shares about the devastation. Watch here to learn about a couple’s harrowing escape from the flames and the support they’ve received after the fire destroyed their home. If you or someone you know is looking for a loved one, please click here to access the Red Cross Safe and Well website.
• On Saturday, MNYN Red Crossers responded to a fire on Gold Street in Yonkers, providing emergency assistance to 10 adults and 2 children. 
• Local Red Crosser Cedric Davoren continues to provide relief efforts to those affected by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan and Tinian. Client services and disaster assessment are working to see as many people as possible. The Army partnered with the Red Cross to assemble Disaster Emergency kits and deliver supplies to the people of Tinian. 
• On Thursday, Red Cross held its Sunrise to Save Lives breakfast to support the Red Cross Measles Rubella Initiative. Thank you to program manager James Noe for educating and informing about this important initiative. 
• Thank you Councilman Robert Holden for inviting the American Red Cross to partner and work together to provide vital Home Fire Safety and Emergency Preparedness services.
• Last Monday, Red Cross partnered with Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation to install smoke alarms and raise awareness about the importance of working smoke alarms and fire safety. 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities 

• Hiring: Response Manager (weekday 12am-8am shift), Response Manager (Wed-Fri 4pm-12am shifts with alternating 12pm-12am weekend shifts)
• Nov 19, 20, 21, & 23: 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!  
• Dec 13: Join the Red Cross Young Patrons at their Holiday Soirée: a night of conversation, drinks, live music and general holiday cheer at the beautiful and historic Players Club in Gramercy Park. To purchase tickets, click here!

In Case You Missed It — Nov 12

Red Crossers honoring our nation's veterans at the NYC Veteran's Day Parade (Photo: Kevin Suttlehan)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 115 adults and 18 children following 60 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• Led by Oonagh Tait channeling Clara Bartan, Red Cross volunteers dedicated their Sunday to celebrating our nation’s veterans and marched in the NYC Veteran’s Day Parade. Red Crossers also served hot beverages, water, and snacks to event attendees. Thank you to all veterans and those currently serving! Check out more photos here.
• On Saturday our Home Fire Campaign team and community partners were in Queens neighborhoods, promoting home fire safety and installing free smoke alarms to households. Join the Home Fire Campaign today! 
• Red Cross is on the ground in Saipan and Tinian, providing relief efforts to those affected by a Super Typhoon Yutu. Local Red Crossers like Cedric Davoren are delivering emergency supply kits to clients and are working with Youth Bureau Services for client service centers for the villages. 
• Thank you SOMOS New York for recognizing the work of the Red Cross and Cruz Roja’s team in helping Puerto Rico. We are honored to work with you to continue to build a more robust and resilient Puerto Rico. 
• On Friday, Regional CEO of American Red Cross in Greater New York Josh Lockwood met with Tom Morris Jur from the hit show LivePD to discuss how to grow the Red Cross mission.
• Local Red Crossers including our Communications Officer Mike de Vulpillieres deployed to Butte County, California to open shelters, assist wildfire evacuees, and provide supplies.
• The FDNY Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) recently returned to NYC after a deployment to Florida to assist those affected by Hurricane Michael. In just one week, the team was able to distribute 1,000 kits to hurricane victims to help those who lost power or were without means to cook for themselves. 
• On Wednesday, Red Cross held a Sound the Alarm Pillowcase Project at the Bayview Community Center After School Program. For the next few weeks, Red Cross has partnered with Millennium Youth Development to teach children the essentials of preparing for an emergency. 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• Nov 12, 16, & 19: 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! 
• Nov 15: American Red Cross is hosting Sunrise to Save Lives Breakfast to eliminate measles through improved vaccination coverage. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://501auctions.com/sunrisetosavelives. For questions and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dawn Neilson at dawn.neilson@redcross.org or 516-747-3500 ext. 203. 
• Nov 16: Sign up for a free 2-hour class about the Fundamental Principles that guide the work and decisions of all Red Cross Red Crescent workers. RSVP here or contact Sara Onvani at sara.onvani2@redcross.org. 
• Dec 13: Join the Red Cross Young Patrons at their Holiday Soirée: a night of conversation, drinks, live music and general holiday cheer at the beautiful and historic Players Club in Gramercy Park. To purchase tickets, click here! 

Volunteer Snapshot: Jeff O'Neill

Jeff O'Neil in Mexico Beach, Florida after Hurricane Michael

Jeff O’Neill remembers walking past his local Red Cross in Huntington, Long Island thousands of times before one day deciding to walk in and learn more. 16 years after that fateful decision, O’Neill has not looked back. From working in a mega shelter for victims of Hurricane Harvey to working with Health Services after a devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri, O’Neill has dedicated countless hours helping those affected by disasters across the country. Most recently, O’Neill deployed to Florida for two weeks in response to Hurricane Michael. There, he drove an Emergency Response Vehicle and teamed up with a local volunteer fire department to provide warm meals to residents impacted by this historic storm.

When asked what he’s learned from his 16 years with the Red Cross, O’Neill said:

“I have the best feeling that I’ve had in my life when I’m reaching out and helping somebody else…And the Red Cross has given me the opportunity to be on that path, to find those people that need help. Like a lot of the things the Red Cross has done for me, nothing is huge. There’s been no great flash of light; it’s just been little, little things where I can see somebody feel a little bit relieved in a crazy situation. And if I can help be a part of that, it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had.”

O'Neill after the 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado

O'Neill and fellow volunteers in Florida responding to Hurricane Michael

Mexico Beach, Florida

Red Crossers team up with Lanark Volunteer Fire Department after Hurricane Michael

In Case You Missed It - Nov 5

Red Cross offered emergency preparedness training to students of New Dorp High School on Staten Island 

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 96 adults and 27 children following 33 disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (see below)

Last Week in Review

• Special thank you to all the Red Crossers who volunteered at the TCS New York City Marathon yesterday, serving as medical spotters at the finish line. And thank you to all the runners who ran to benefit the Red Cross! 
• On Sunday, our very own Craig Cooper (LI volunteer) was on the monthly Red Cross feature, ‘Weather Red Report,’ on The Weather Channel. Craig provided tips on how to prepare for a winter emergency. He also reminded viewers to check the batteries on their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. 
• On Friday, we teamed up with Council Member Steven Mateo to provide emergency preparedness training to thousands of students at New Dorp High School on Staten Island. Thank you to the New Dorp HS staff for welcoming our team to help Staten Island prepare! 
• On our most recent installment for “Three Questions” we featured longtime Red Cross staff member Francisco Resto who currently serves as a disaster responder on the 10:00 P.M. to 6:30 A.M. overnight shift. 
• Congrats to Arturo Guzman who just celebrated thirty years of Red Cross volunteer service! And on Saturday, he deployed to Florida to support Hurricane Michael relief efforts! 
• On Thursday, our Sr. Director of Government and Community Relations John Waldman joined NYC Department of Buildings at their Full Scale Exercise with New York City Fire Department. 
• MNYN volunteers provided emergency assistance to ten adults displaced by a home fire in Mt Vernon on Tuesday. 
• For Halloween, the Red Cross ECC shared this spooky story of a little ghost that haunts our offices at night. 

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• Nov 6, 9, & 12: 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! 
• Nov 15: American Red Cross is hosting Sunrise to Save Lives Breakfast to eliminate measles through improved vaccination coverage. To purchase tickets, please visit: https://501auctions.com/sunrisetosavelives. For questions and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dawn Neilson at dawn.neilson@redcross.org or 516-747-3500 ext. 203. 
• Nov 16: Sign up for a free 2-hour class about the Fundamental Principles that guide the work and decisions of all Red Cross Red Crescent workers. RSVP here or contact Sara Onvani at sara.onvani2@redcross.org. 
• Dec 13: Join the Red Cross Young Patrons at their Holiday Soirée: a night of conversation, drinks, live music and general holiday cheer at the beautiful and historic Players Club in Gramercy Park. To purchase tickets, click here!