In Case You Missed It

60 year Red Cross volunteer Ross Ogden in Hartford, Connecticut circa 1982.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 42 adults and 10 children following 32 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Last Wednesday we published a special three-part #MyRedCrossLife Instagram series highlighting volunteer Ross Ogden. Ross is celebrating an incredible milestone: 60 years of service with the Red Cross. Check out his full story here that we posted on the Red Cross website.
• Last week we featured disaster responder Garrison Harward as part of our “Three Questions” blog series.
• Tuesday, our volunteer Vivian Moy shared photos of the destruction caused by Hurricane Laura in Southwest Louisiana where she is deployed.
• We offered our Prepare, Respond and Recover training virtually on Thursday. This event was co-hosted by Senator Joe Addabbo, State Senator James Sanders Jr. and Denean Ferguson.
• We also held two Pillowcase Project virtual workshops for kids, in partnership with NY State Senators Monica Martinez and Anna Kaplan. 

Upcoming Events and Activities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Ready Red Cross Shelter Volunteer and Hurricane Season Reserve Corps Volunteer. Apply today at  redcross.org/volunteertoday! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• To find a blood drive near you click here.
• Oct 27, Oct 28, Nov 9: The Pillowcase Project is a free virtual emergency preparedness education class that teaches children (ages 7-12) about emergency preparedness.  Register for an online session here.
• Oct 26: Hurricane Readiness NY Volunteer Opportunities Information Sessions for new volunteers. Register for an online session here.
• Nov 10: Disaster Response 2020: COVID-19, Hurricanes, Wildfires Presentation co-hosted by Brad Kieserman, Vice President of Disaster Operations & Logistics for the American Red Cross. Register here.

"Three Questions" With Garrison Harward

By Alessandro Malave, American Red Cross in Greater New York

"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.

Brooklyn resident Garrison Harward is a volunteer with the American Red Cross in Greater NY, serving as a disaster responder, helping residents impacted by local disasters across the five boroughs. Originally from California, Harward moved to NYC in 2013 and first joined the Red Cross after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto. As part of his three-week deployment there he traveled across the island helping to distribute solar panels and generators. Since COVID-19, Harward has taken on more volunteer hours and added responsibilities with the NY Red Cross.

How and why did you begin volunteering with the Red Cross?

I think I had a really unique entry into the Red Cross. I was a Peace Corps volunteer. I served in Senegal for two years after college. Through the former “Return the Peace Corps” volunteer network, I learned that the Red Cross needed more people to help in Puerto Rico who were used to working in pretty extreme conditions. So my very first interaction with the Red Cross was when I deployed to Puerto Rico. And that's the reason that I kept volunteering with the Red Cross because I had such a positive experience there.

Can you talk about your work responding to disasters during COVID-19?

It's been busy, actually. There are lots of fires, there are still unsafe apartments that people can't stay in, and there are also City services to get people into better situations. We're a part of that system. I've been doing lots and lots of deliveries [of relief items] as well as financial assistance. That often has to be delivered to the clients [impacted residents]. For a lot of people, that financial assistance can be the difference between them being able to get where they’re going to be staying or not. Or sometimes it’s whether or not people are going to eat that night.

Can you talk about teamwork during the pandemic?

There's a lot of good coordination happening, and a lot of people problem solving and willing to help. It's just cool to be in that environment. I've done a couple of overnight sessions at disaster scenes. There was a building collapse, and I was in an ERV [Emergency Response Vehicle] overnight, just to be there for Red Cross in case residents needed help. And then, I got to go into the OEM [NYC Emergency Management] Command Center. This was pretty cool. Being the Red Cross representative for that response, that all these different agencies are also a part of, it was great. It was so cool to be a part of the whole system that's trying to help people out.

In Case You Missed It

Volunteer Vivian Moy, recipient of the NY State Senate Commendation Award

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 51 adults and 29 children for 39 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• On Friday, we shared a post from the American Red Cross California Gold Country Region who recently chatted with Greater NY team member Joe Spaccarelli who spent several weeks in California supporting the Red Cross response to massive wildfires out West.
• Thursday, our new CEO Mary Barneby demonstrated how quick and easy it is to donate blood.
• Last week we celebrated Global Handwashing Day, an annual observance more relevant than ever due to COVID-19.
• Volunteer Vivian Moy was recognized last Tuesday by NY State Senator Anna M. Kaplan. Vivian received the NY Senate Commendation Award for her efforts to help neighbors in need. Vivian is currently working as a DES (Distribution of Emergency Supplies) volunteer in Louisiana, helping those affected by Hurricane Delta.
• We offered two Prepare, Respond and Recover trainings virtually last week. These events were made possible by NYC Council Member Terrence McSweeney, NY State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud, NY State Assemblywoman Jaime Williams and NYC Councilman Alan Maisel.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Ready Red Cross Shelter Volunteer, Hurricane Season Reserve Corps Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• To find a blood drive near you click here.
• October 22: Prepare, Respond, Recover is a free virtual training about what you and your community can do when natural and man-made disasters strike. Register for an online session here.
• Oct 20, 21, 27, 28: The Pillowcase Project is a free virtual emergency preparedness education class that teaches children (ages 7-12) about emergency preparedness. Register for an online session here.
• Oct 21: The Leadership Volunteer Information Session for volunteers who wish to learn more about training to work on a large-scale disaster relief operation. Register here.
• Oct 26: Hurricane Readiness NY Volunteer Opportunities Information Sessions for new volunteers needed for this active hurricane season. Register for an online session here.

In Case You Missed It

Red Cross distributing emergency supplies to California residents as part of Wildfire relief. (Photo: Ronnie Rigos)

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 76 adults and 26 children for 37 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Last week we deployed six team members from the Greater NY Region to support the response to Hurricane Delta. Delta is the fourth named storm to hit Louisiana this hurricane season.
• The Red Cross continues to respond to several other large-scale disasters across the country and our team members continue to support these relief operations. This includes our Joe Spaccarelli and Ronnie Rigos who are helping with wildfire responses in California and Cedric Davoren who is in Oregon.
• On Saturday The East Hampton Star interviewed Long Island Red Cross CEO Neela Mukherjee Lockel about our Hurricane Reserve Corps.
• Last week we observed Fire Prevention Week by sharing common kitchen mistakes and safety tips
• We live-streamed several Pillowcase Project preparedness events for children. The virtual events were co-hosted by Assembly Member Michaelle Solages, Senator Kevin Thomas and Assembly woman Kimberly Jean-Pierre.
• We also offered two Prepare, Respond, Recover training virtually, these events were co-hosted by Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl E. Heastie. and Council Member Donovan Richards. 

Upcoming Events and Activities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Ready Red Cross Shelter Volunteer, Hurricane Season Reserve Corps Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• To find a blood drive near you click here.
• October 22: Prepare, Respond, Recover is a free virtual training about what you and your community can do when natural and man-made disasters strike. Register for an online session here.
• Oct 20, 21, 28: The Pillowcase Project is a free virtual emergency preparedness education class that teaches children (ages 7-12) about emergency preparedness.  Register for an online session here.
• Oct 14, 26: Hurricane Readiness NY Volunteer Opportunities Information Sessions for new volunteers needed for this active hurricane season. Register for an online session here.
• Oct 15: The Even War Has Rules class is a dynamic discussion of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and how it governs armed conflict. Register for an online session here.

In Case You Missed It

Evacuees in Vacaville, Calif., in August after wildfires tore through the countryside nearby.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 80 adults and 28 children following 36 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below) 

Last Week in Review

• On Thursday, The New York Times reported that the Red Cross has provided more nights of shelter to Americans this year than at any point on record.
• We hosted a virtual presentation of The Pillowcase Project to teach children about emergency preparedness co-hosted by New York Senator Shelley Mayer.
• On Tuesday we heard from Natacha Gomez who jumped at the opportunity to deploy to Louisiana to help prepare local shelters for the impending landfall of Hurricane Laura.
• Wednesday we celebrated Podcast Day by showcasing our informative podcast featuring our volunteers and partners discussing tips on how to manage life around COVID-19.
• Our team member Ronnie Rigos continues to deliver humanitarian support to those affected by the wildfires in the California Gold Country Region. His team is adapting to overcome the obstacles of a pandemic.
• Our volunteer Maria L Anguiano was recognized by Univision Nueva York as an Angel del 41 for her dedication to her community and her service with the Red Cross.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Ready Red Cross Shelter Volunteer, Hurricane Season Reserve Corps Apply today at www.redcross.org/volunteer! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.
• To find a blood drive near you click here.
• October 5, 8, 22: Prepare, Respond, Recover is a free virtual training about what you and your community can do when natural and man-made disasters strike. Register for an online session here.
• Oct 6, 7, 8, 20, 28: The Pillowcase Project is a free virtual emergency preparedness education class that teaches children (ages 7-12) about emergency preparedness.  Register for an online session here.