Three Questions: Red Cross Disaster Responder Mark Gordon

"Three Questions …” is an American Red Cross in Greater New York blog series featuring staff, volunteers, and partners who help carry out our humanitarian mission. Through these short interviews, we hope to shine a light on our different programs and get to know those who make this work possible.

 

Mark Gordon joined the Red Cross as a volunteer in January of this year as a way to spend his retirement and give back to the organization that once helped his family after a fire. As part of the disaster response team, Mark takes shifts every week during which we assists people that have been affected by local disasters. In this interview he talks about what it means for him to be a Red Cross volunteer.

Why did you join the Red Cross? 

It’s very interesting: four years ago, there was a fire in my mother-in-law’s apartment in Great Neck and it was burned to cinders. It was a horrible day, there was an ice storm and it was miserable. By the time my wife and I got there, the Long Island Red Cross was already there. These two nice young gentlemen were there talking to my mother-in-law and calming her down and giving all the services that we give. 

I said that when I retire, that’s what I wanna do. I’m semi-retired now and my wife’s a school teacher, so I can’t really stay home. I need something to do. This was the perfect way to spend my retirement, giving back and thanking the Red Cross for what they did for my family. 

Did you find here what you were looking for? 

Yes, and more so. I’ve been working almost 50 years now. And this is the only place where nobody has an ego. Especially, in today’s world, where everything is a zero-sum game. Meaning that for me to win, you have to lose. What I’m finding at the Red Cross is that nobody has an ego. The only way that I can win is if you win. 

What is the most impressionable moment you have had at the Red Cross? 

One of my first days out, it was right before Christmas and there was a grandmother and her two young grandchildren. It was a [building] vacate, and she was crying. It was a week before Christmas. Her grandchildren were probably in second and fifth grade. They were just there with their backpacks, not knowing where they’re going. 

You don’t realize how lucky you are until you see people in need. That’s why I enjoy the Red Cross because we’re helping people at the time when they need it the most. It’s just such a nice feeling. 

Photo credits: Lisa Weatherbee, American Red Cross

In Case You Missed It - May 13

Sound the Alarm comes to Yonkers with volunteers, community partners and elected officials. (Photo: Matt LaMonica)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 108 adults and 31 children following 45 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Sound the Alarm May push continues:
• Almost 200 volunteers, community partners and elected officials converged onto Yonkers to install free life-saving smoke alarms on Saturday. Check out more amazing photographs of the day from volunteer photographers Matt LaMonica and Enid Alvarez. 
• STA Champion Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins got hands-on installing smoke alarms for her constituents in Yonkers.
• On Friday, the Long Island Red Cross returned to Hauppauge and other parts of Long Island for another round of smoke alarm installations.
• Thanks to Newsday for helping us to share important information regarding our work to #EndHomeFires on Long Island with Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone.  
• Video highlights from May 1 Kick-Off outside of our HQ in Hell’s Kitchen. 
• Mayor Mike Spano signed on to become the latest STA Champion. Watch his PSA here.
• With Hurricane season almost here once again, our community presenters taught Pillowcase Project emergency preparedness to the children of PS 272 in Canarsie.
• Early Wednesday morning in Harlem, our hearts went out to the family who lost six family members, including four children in an apartment fire. Responders provided emergency assistance to displaced residents while others fanned out to provide fire safety information and offered to install free smoke alarms to neighbors. 
• Our Logistics Team made sure our warehouse supplies are stocked and ready to assist the animal pet population during disasters.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Volunteer Screener, Home Fire Campaign Team Member, Disaster Action Team Member, Recovery Caseworker, Pillowcase Presenter. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contactrecruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• May 17, 20: 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!
• June 6: Join us for an extraordinary evening at the Long Island Red Cross Gala – Heroes Among Us! For over 100 years the American Red Cross on Long Island has helped the community prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Get your tickets here.
• June 13: Please join the Red Cross Young Patrons for 'An Evening Under the Stars', a summer rooftop soiree to support the Red Cross, featuring an open bar, dinner, and live music. Doors open at 7pm. Get your tickets here.
• June 17-23: Travel to Solferino, Italy for a Historic Red Cross Celebration! For the first time, an unofficial, self-funded delegation of American Red Cross volunteers and staff from the United States will journey to Solferino to take part in this annual event that includes a battle reenactment, musical entertainment, special speakers, a learning academy, a youth conference, group events and guided tours. If you’re interested in traveling to Solferino as part of this group, please ‘like’ and ‘follow’ the American Red Cross Solferino2019 Facebook page or visit the American Red Cross Solferino website, where you can find detailed information about registering.

In Case You Missed It - May 6

National American Red Cross CEO, Gail McGovern, Greater New York Chapter CEO, Josh Lockwood,
Board members Ashleigh Banfield, Tom Morris Jr., and John Osborn, and other partners in front of hundreds
of volunteers who were ready to Sound the Alarm at the kickoff.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 183 adults and 56 children following 40 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• This year's Sound the Alarm:
• We kickoffed Sound the Alarm campaign to install free smoke alarms in Chinatown and Harlem. Thank you FDNY and volunteers for making the launch a success. 
• We held a press conference at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association with community partners to promote Sound the Alarm fire safety to Chinatown residents. 
• Hundreds of volunteers met at IBEW Local 25 and kicked off our Sound the Alarm campaign to install smoke alarms all over Long Island!
• The American Red Cross partnered with New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins to Sound the Alarm to her district in Yonkers this May 11th. 
• On Friday, our Senior Leadership and few of our amazing board members went on a mission trip to Puerto Rico to observe and track the progress of recovery and rebuilding projects to make communities more resilient. 
• Early Thursday morning, News 12 reported that residents of a Grand Concourse building evacuated due to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Con Edison was called to resolve the issue, and the Red Cross provided temporary shelter for those displaced. 
• During the 34th annual Red and White Ball where we honored First Lieutenant Victor E. Prato with the Excellence in Service Award. Victor Prato’s determination and courage is an inspiration to us all. 

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Volunteer Screener, Home Fire Campaign Team Member, Disaster Action Team Member, Recovery Caseworker, Pillowcase Presenter, and Community Preparedness Education Program Team Member. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contactrecruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• May 10, 13: 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!
• May 14: Women Who Lead, the signature New York City event of the Tiffany Circle, features a global community of women leaders who advance the Red Cross humanitarian mission. Join us and get inspired! The event begins at 11:30am. Get your tickets here. 
• June 6: Join us for an extraordinary evening at the Long Island Red Cross Gala – Heroes Among Us! For over 100 years the American Red Cross on Long Island has helped the community prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Get your tickets here.
• June 13: Please join the Red Cross Young Patrons for 'An Evening Under the Stars', a summer rooftop soiree to support the Red Cross, featuring an open bar, dinner, and live music. Doors open at 7pm. Get your tickets here.