Helping Those Who Serve

By Dana Gray, American Red Cross in Greater New York

The American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program works to help the military, their families, and veterans prepare for and cope with the challenges presented by serving in the military.

Marilyn Vallejo, a resident of Long Island, is one of many volunteers here in Greater NY who dedicate their time to supporting our service members, but her work with the Red Cross started as a volunteer with the Disaster Response team. In 1996 while working as a licensed clinical social worker for the state of New York following the crash of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island, Marilyn was introduced to the Red Cross who had staff on the ground helping those who had lost loved ones. Soon after, she joined the Red Cross as a volunteer to do disaster relief work herself.

In 2011 she began volunteering with the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program, the oldest line of service for the organization, dating back to the days of Clara Barton. This year, Marilyn is celebrating her 23rd anniversary volunteering with the Red Cross.

Marilyn Vallejo (second from the right) at a SAF workshop.

With SAF, Marilyn uses her experience in the mental health field to help facilitate groups with veterans, active military, family members, and military children. These Reconnection Workshops, as they are called, work to ease the stress and challenges associated with entering the military, leaving for deployment, and returning home.

As part of her work with SAF, Marilyn deploys to military installations across the region and around the country. At times, she is even called on to travel to military installations outside the US to carry out this work.

Recalling her work over the past eight years, Marilyn says there is one experience that stands out to her. One of the groups that she ran was an anger management workshop at Fort Drum in Northern New York. At that time, Marilyn said she left feeling like there was more she could have done for those taking part. However, two years later while holding another session in New Jersey, one of the women in attendance recognized Marilyn. The woman had been at the group at Fort Drum and said that the group had helped save her marriage.

“We stood there and cried and hugged,” said Marilyn. “I thought I did a terrible job that day, but you just never know when there’s people listening and what they’re hearing.”

And Marilyn has a personal connection to the military: her husband is a Vietnam War veteran and her brother also served.

“The first time I heard about the Red Cross my brother was in Germany and got hurt and my mother, who had never flown before, was flown out by the Red Cross," said Marilyn. “It just touches people and most people know someone or have been personally touched by the Red Cross in some way. It’s an organization, but inside of that organization is such a human heart.”

Marilyn’s passion and commitment has motivated others, such as Mozelle McQuade, to lend their mental-health expertise to the SAF program.

Following 9/11 Mozelle joined the Red Cross and was inspired to work, specifically with the Service to the Armed Forces program, after hearing Marilyn speak at a Department of Mental Health meeting.

Mozelle, like Marilyn, facilitates workshops and teaches other mental-health professionals how to hold these sessions. Having worked as a therapist to military personnel who returned home from the Vietnam War, Mozelle said she sees firsthand the impact of what Service to the Armed Forces and the Red Cross in general provides.

When soldiers returned home from the Vietnam War, she said, no one was discussing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and very few services were provided to those returning home.

“I think that now the military is more aware, and I love the fact that the Red Cross is right there on the front lines with them.”

Through Reconnection Workshops, Mind-body Workshops, therapy programs, and more, SAF provides relief to military personnel before, during, and after their deployments.

“It is as meaningful to me as I hope it is to the people that I’m working with," Mozelle continued. "I get more from them than I think I give back and it’s just a nice thing. It’s an amazing piece of my life right now.”

To learn more about how the American Red Cross helps service members and their families visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/military-families.html

In Case You Missed It - July 29

GNY Red Cross volunteers opened two emergency shelters
in Southeast Brooklyn and Jamaica St in Queens (Photo: Ronnie Rigos).

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 150 adults and 51 children following 48 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Last Friday, ABC7 reported a fire on Ogden Ave in the Bronx where the Red Cross assisted 18 people with emergency housing.
• Check out our "Three Questions" interview with two of our interns about their experience installing smoke alarms and educating residents about fire safety in Co-op City in the Bronx. #EndHomeFires
• Senator John C. Liu and Councilman Barry Grodenchik stopped by on Thursday to observe and address attendees who came out to the Emergency Preparedness Training we conducted as part of our partnership with JASA at one of their centers in Queens Village. 
• On Thursday, Mastercard employees participated in a Red Cross Disaster Response training. #BePrepared. 
• As a Red Cross Disaster Responder, Ashira Konigsburg is one of the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency, soon after First Responders. Read about her experience in our Instagram series #MyRedCrossLife. 
• On Monday, we opened two emergency shelters to assist those without power in Southeast Brooklyn and Jamaica St in Queens.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Disaster Action Team Member, Mass Care Team Member, Citizen Preparedness Corps Presenter, Financial Statistical Information Team Member. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• August 1: Join us for an evening with the American Red Cross to support disaster relief. The event will be from 6 to 8 pm on Long Island at Calissa in Water Mill. Purchase tickets at https://one.bidpal.net/whenstarscollide

Three Questions: Summer Interns Help Save Lives in Co-op City

By Dana Gray, American Red Cross in Greater NY

"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. This interview spotlights two American Red Cross interns.

Twenty Red Cross interns installed smoke alarms in Co-op City on June 11, 2019 as part of the  Home Fire Campaign. Co-op City is a cluster of high rise apartment buildings and townhouses that makes up the largest single residential development in the country.

On average, seven people die due to home fires each day across the country. Since 2014, the Home Fire Campaign has worked to prevent these deaths by installing free smoke alarms in communities across the country. The Sound the Alarm installation events see volunteers installing smoke alarms, educating families about fire safety, and replacing batteries on existing alarms.

Samantha Vickers-Hymowitz, an Information and Planning Intern, and Maya David, a Workforce Engagement Intern, attended the June 11 Home Fire Campaign event and talked with us about their experiences.

Can you tell me about your experience at the Home Fire event?

Samantha: I thought it was a lot of fun. I was an installer and that was the first time I ever really used a power drill before so that was a lot of fun. We got to install in about seven homes. I thought it was going to be harder to literally install the alarms, but it wasn’t that bad after doing it the first time.

Maya: It was fun. I was an educator, so I got to talk to the people who lived there. We took a really long time to install and only did three homes, but it was fun still!

What was your favorite part of the day?

Samantha: Getting to know everybody a little bit better was nice. I also think feeling like you were doing something that matters was really cool too. You’re walking into some of those apartments and there weren’t any smoke alarms and it’s kind of hard to imagine if something did happen. It felt like you were saving lives.

Maya: It was nice to talk to different people, different walks of life. I was listening to people’s life stories which was nice. Meeting the other interns was also cool, I feel like we’re a little more connected. Whenever I see other people now I’m like “Hey” because I feel like I know them now.

What did you take away from the experience?

Samantha: The day was really meaningful. I would definitely do it again. 100%. I feel like it’s really cool to actually go out and do field work.

Maya: One of the ladies was telling me about how one of her friends and husband died from carbon monoxide recently. While we were doing the installation, she said thank you for this. Being able to do something that positively affects someone just makes you feel good.

In Case You Missed It - July 22

Red Cross volunteers provided water and support to the
Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride in Babylon, NY. (Photo: Doreen Brienza)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 112 adults and 33 children following 48 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• It’s been really hot out there! Last week, ABC7 interviewed our CEO Josh Lockwood about how to stay cool in the heat and what to do in a power outage.
• On Friday, Red Cross volunteers provided water and support to the Wounded Warrior Soldier Ride in Babylon, NY. 
• On Thursday, we had a great Emergency Preparedness presentation at the Penn South Senior Center. We were joined by Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried and Senator Brad Hoylman.
• The State legislator Deborah Glick joined our Red Cross volunteers last Tuesday, going out to install free smoke alarms in her district. #EndHomeFires. 
• Red Cross volunteer Shirley Leung was deployed to help during the California wildfires last year and she shares her experiences there in last week’s Instagram series #MyRedCrossLife. 
• Zachary Terzano started as a Water Safety Instructor at 16 years old and as a Lifeguarding Instructor at 24. In the past year and half, he has become an Instructor Trainer and works to promote Red Cross Water Safety and Lifeguarding. Read his “Three Questions” interview here.
• On Tuesday, we have the honor to host the president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) here at our HQ to discuss the humanitarian consequences of climate change and the IFRC’s new Heatwave Guide for Cities. Our friends from the Red Cross Climate Centre, NYC Emergency Management and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Resiliency participated. Pics here!

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Disaster Action Team Member, Mass Care Team Member, Citizen Preparedness Corps Presenter, Financial Statistical Information Team Member. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.

Three Questions: Zachary Terzano

By Dana Gray, American Red Cross in Greater NY

"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.

Zachary Terzano has been involved with the American Red Cross since he took a water safety class in Hempstead, Long Island at six years old. Zachary has continued his passion for the water through his teenage and adult life. He started as a Water Safety Instructor at 16 years old and later began lifeguarding at 24. In the past year and half, Zachary has become an Instructor Trainer, training people on Long Island via the organization (and Red Cross partner) Aquatic Solutions. He also works to promote Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguarding classes and make sure that safety guidelines are being met.

What should someone keep in mind when visiting a pool for the first time?

A big thing when you first go to a facility is to look for signage, that’s the biggest thing, it’s the tell-tale indication of what is safe, what to do, what not to do. They’ll be pool rules, things like that, around the pool. Also, the lifeguard has more knowledge on that so anything that the lifeguard does enforce or tells you to do you want to follow that. You also have outdoor backyard pools which get a little bit more dangerous, so just making sure that the owner of the house is alert. I have a pool in my backyard now, so just making sure that anytime that I have people over, I’m always on top of it, it's a big responsibility. If you do have a party it’s good to have a certified lifeguard there. 

What causes the most accidents and what should people do if an accident happens?

When you’re with your peers you always want to have fun, joke around with your friends. A big thing is horseplay that’s unnecessary, and unfortunately, that’s the biggest thing that leads to danger. Yes, have fun but you want to do that in a safe way. [If there is a problem] in a supervised facility a lifeguard would be trained to help them and address that situation, but if it is unfortunately not a supervised facility or you are in a backyard, calling 911 is the biggest thing to make sure you do. It is also a big thing to try to take an American Red Cross class just to be at least trained in CPR or First Aid. The Red Cross also has some really nice resources like the First Aid app.

Why is water safety so important to you personally?

My friend in college was diving into the water and hit his head and ended up breaking his neck. He was on the swimming team and was a qualified swimmer, but you still have to be careful when you’re in and near the water. He recovered and was back swimming for the next year, but unfortunately accidents happen, and you just have to try to be safe.

In Case You Missed It - July 15

On Friday, GNY Red Cross staff and volunteers assisted those affected by a
massive fire on Watson Ave in the Bronx (Photo: Kevin Suttlehan)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 253 adults and 80 children following 54 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Last Saturday, there was a major power outage in Manhattan and the Red Cross was on standby to help. Incidents like this remind us how important it is to be prepared. 
• Last week, a major storm made, Barry, made landfall as a hurricane. Hundreds of Red Cross staff members are on the ground helping, including one volunteer from the Greater New York area.
• On Friday, the Red Cross provided assistance after a massive fire on Watson Ave in the Bronx. More photographs taken by volunteer Kevin Suttlehan from the response can be viewed here.
• Red Cross volunteers provided assistance at the Jackson Houses in the Bronx after a transformer fire left several buildings without power.
• We had a Mass Casualty incident presentation for Red Cross volunteers. Three Red Cross experts shared their experience responding to responses in Sandy Hook, Boston, Orlando and Las Vegas.
• On Tuesday, we talked about pool safety with NBC4 following a tragic pool accident in Long Island. Anyone planning on spending time in the water this summer should check out these water safety tips.
• Senator Kevin Thomas joined our efforts to help #EndHomeFires by partnering with the Red Cross to install free smoke alarms across Long Island. Need a smoke alarm? Visit www.sounthealarm.org.
• We also posted a full gallery of the Pride Parade from the end of June here by volunteer photographer John Eng.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Disaster Action Team Member, Mass Care Team Member, Citizen Preparedness Corps Presenter, Financial Statistical Information Team Member. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• July 16: The Humanitarian Consequences of Climate Change Discussion will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Greater NY Red Cross building located at 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. RSVP here!

Brooklyn Lifeguards Save Teen's Life

By Maria Sievers, American Red Cross in Greater New York

On March 11, 2019, Lifeguard Derek Jennings and a group of high school students sprang into action and saved a life. For their lifesaving exploits, they were recognized by the American Red Cross. 

Jennings, from Long island, was the lifeguard during a swim class at Cypress Hills Collegiate Preparatory High School in Brooklyn when he noticed a 14-year-old student unresponsive underwater. Trained in American Red Cross Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED, Jennings took action immediately. Once he removed the body from the water and realized the student did not have a pulse and was not breathing, Jennings began administering CPR. 

Other students, including 18-year-old Carmelo Ortiz, helped prepare the scene and helped Jennings with the AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Emergency Medical Responders soon arrived and took the student to the hospital. 

Ortiz, from Brooklyn, was in class at the time of the accident. All of a sudden, he noticed that the lifeguard Jennings got very alarmed checking on a young student that was underwater. When Jennings got into the pool, Ortiz quickly set up the backboard to help stabilize the body and got ready to assist the lifeguard. He and the other students also helped open the unconscious student’s airway. 

This was the first time since learning CPR 17 years ago that Jennings had to resuscitate someone. For this act, Derek received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award, one of the highest awards given by the organization to an individual or team of individuals who save or sustain a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Training Services course. 

Last June, Derek Jennings received the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award.

“I have children so all I think whenever I am watching children is ‘this could be my child,’” said Jennings. “I wasn’t nervous, I guess all the training I have had over the years helped me dealing with the situation. I felt like watching a movie. It was surreal in a way, like I was not participating, but watching it," he recalled. 

To Ortiz, that day served as a wake-up call that has made him more humble and aware of his surroundings especially in the water. 

“I was very alarmed at the moment and a bit shocked...What came to my head was everything I have learned,” says Ortiz. He had taken the Red Cross Lifeguard classes in spring of 2018. Because of his action, he received an American Red Cross certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action. 

Student Carmelo Ortiz wants to dedicate his life to help others

Looking back at what happened Jennings, reflected on the importance of not only being trained to save a life and but keeping those skills fresh: “It is not just the lifesaving training, it’s the general First Aid and CPR. And if it’s not regular, you lose the skills. The same if teaching a land sport like basketball or football, or music even. If you stop training, if you stop preparing, your skills levels are affected," he said. 

Derek Jennings has been a Lifeguard for over 17 years

To learn more about the Red Cross Lifeguard Training and Certifications visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifeguar

In Case You Missed It - July 8

Gerald Rothstein, one of the volunteers at the GNY Red Cross, was featured in our most recent #MyRedCrossLife Instagram post (Photo: Matt Lamonica) 

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 109 adults and 30 children following 32 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday, the Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 13 families (22 adults, 4 children and 15 pets) impacted by a fire in Yonkers.
• On Thursday and Friday, two earthquakes shook southern California. Red Cross volunteers have been on the ground helping impacted residents. Would you know what do in the event of an earthquake?
• Last week, NY state announced that 300,000 New Yorkers have received free emergency preparedness training thanks to their Citizen Preparedness Corps program. The Greater NY Red Cross is a major partner in this program that helps deliver readiness skills to residents across the region. We encourage everyone to prepare their household in the event of an emergency.
• On Thursday July 4th, we celebrated our Independence Day and shared some important safety tips with New Yorkers.
• We recently held a Pie Eating Contest as part of our local employee engagement campaign “Hope Starts Here”.
• Learn more about Greater NY Red Cross volunteer Gerald Rothstein, who stars in our most recent #MyRedCrossLife Instagram post.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Disaster Action Team Member, Mass Care Team Member, Citizen Preparedness Corps Presenter, Financial Statistical Information Team Member. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• July 10: "ARC Mass Casualty Incident Presentation" (for Red Cross Volunteers Only) - Join us for an important discussion and presentation from three Red Cross Team Experts who will be presenting on recent responses to events such as Sandy Hook, Boston Marathon, Pulse Nightclub, and Las Vegas and sharing lessons learned in these responses.

In Case You Missed It - July 1

GNY Red Cross staff and volunteers participated in the NYC World Pride March 2019 (Photo: Josh Lockwood) 

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 82 adults and 17 children following 49 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Together with thousands of supporters from around the globe, Red Cross staff and volunteers marched in the NYC World Pride 2019 to celebrate diversity. 
• On the same day, Red Cross volunteers assisted Yonkers OEM 40 responding to a fire scene at 307 Saw Mill River Road and relocated 2 families. 
• Check out the “Three Question” interview with volunteer Henry Chu in our blog. 
• Last Saturday, Red Cross volunteers assisted a family of 4 adults and 1 child displaced by a home fire in Mt. Vernon. 
• On Thursday, Councilwoman Diana Ayala and GNY Red Cross CEO Josh Lockwood delivered Emergency Preparedness training to seniors of JASA.
• Last week, Assemblyman Robert J. Rodriguez, Senator Anna M. Kaplan, and Red Cross Long Island CEO Neela Mukherjee Lockel came out to install smoke free alarms in their constituent’s homes in Long Island to help #EndHomeFires.
• On Wednesday, our CEO Josh Lockwood appeared on Fox5NY to talk about the humanitarian missions of the GNY Red Cross.
• On Monday, Senator Kevin Thomas invited GNY Red Cross to partner and offer our Sound the Alarm, Home Fire Safety campaign, to his constituents.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Disaster Action Team Member, Mass Care Team Member, Citizen Preparedness Corps Presenter, Financial Statistical Information Team Member. Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.