In Case You Missed It

December 25 would have been our founder Clara Barton’s 200^th birthday.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 180 adults and 72 children following 58local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Over the past week, we celebrated the 200th birthday of Clara Barton, our American Red Cross founder. Learn more about how she has been the guiding force behind our lifesaving mission. https://rdcrss.org/30JZoYR

• On Christmas day, the Red Cross provided comfort and care to 11 families left homeless by a multiple-alarm fire on Elliot Ave in Yonkers. ABC7 reported on the fire and highlighted the assistance provided by our volunteers. 

• In an interview with NBC New York this past Sunday, Mary Barneby, our Regional CEO, discussed the work of the Red Cross over these past 12 months. 

• Following devastating tornadoes in multiple states in the South and Midwest, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers from across the country (including several from Greater NY) put their holiday plans on hold to help families who had lost everything. Check out this touching ABC News story.

• This past year, our volunteers, staff and donors have made a difference for tens of thousands. Over the past several weeks, we’ve been sharing some of our favorite images from 2021. Checkout the full collection here.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Are you ready to turn your compassion into action? As a Disaster Casework volunteer, you will connect directly with people affected by disasters big and small to help them take the next steps in their recovery. Sign up here.

In Case You Missed It

Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages installing free smoke alarms
in her community with the Long Island Red Cross.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 188 adults and 47 children following 42 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below) 

Last Week in Review

• Thank you to NY State Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages for partnering with our fire safety teams this weekend on Long Island. 

• Last Thursday, US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries co-hosted a presentation on preparing for local emergencies and large-scale disasters in your community. 

• Jennifer Bohr Cuevas shared why she wanted to volunteer as a disaster mental health worker in our latest #MyRedCrossLife post.

• Last Wednesday, the Red Cross assisted 9 families after a 4-alarm fire on Mead St in the Bronx. Red Cross provided emergency housing and financial assistance. CBS NewYork and ABC7NY reported on the fire. 

• The Red Cross, with the help of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Unit, registered residents in Inwood (Manhattan) for free smoke alarm installations.

• Safe travels to Ray and many other local Red Crossers who have traveled to Kentucky to assist with tornado relief efforts. 

• Last week, we posted part 2 of our podcast about the 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the small California town of Paradise and neighboring communities in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 

• Check out some highlights from this past year showing how your generosity has enabled our volunteers and staff to make a difference for tens of thousands of people near and far. 

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Dec 23: As an opportunity to give gift back this holiday season, join the Red Cross at a blood drive at the Red Cross office in Hawthorne, NY.

• Are you ready to turn your compassion into action? As a Disaster Casework volunteer, you will connect directly with people affected by disasters big and small to help them take the next steps in their recovery. Sign up here.

In Case You Missed It

Devastation left behind by the weekend tornadoes in Tennessee. (Photo: Ryan Myer)

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 99 adults and 20 children for 49 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below) 

Last Week in Review 

• After dozens of tornadoes devastated communities in KY, TN, AR and IL this past weekend, the Red Cross has been working around the clock to provide relief. 

• Last week, we posted the newest episode of our podcast. It focused on the 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the small California town of Paradise and neighboring communities in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 

• Prince Thomas shared why being a firefighter guided him towards the Red Cross in our latest #MyRedCrossLife post.

• Last Friday, the Red Cross assisted 2 residents displaced by a 4-alarm fire on Montague St by providing financial assistance and emergency housing. CBS NewYork, NY Post, and NY1 reported on the fire. 
• Thank you to NY State Senator Joe Addabbo, for helping #EndHomeFires by installing smoke alarms in Middle Village, Queens homes last Wednesday. 

• Last Tuesday, the Greater New York Red Cross Greater, along with NY State Senator Diane J. Savino, Assemblyman Michael Cusick and Councilman Joe Borelli honored local Staten Islander Michael Arvanites for saving a life earlier this year by administering CPR.

• Check out some highlights from this past year showing how your generosity has enabled our volunteers and staff to make a difference for tens of thousands of people near and far.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Dec 15: Join us for a Volunteer Info Session to learn about our many volunteer opportunities and how you can apply. 

• Dec 16: Join us for a special preparedness presentation: Prepare, Respond, Recover: What to do When Disaster Strikes co-hosted by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. 

• Dec 23: As an opportunity to give gift back this holiday season, join the Red Cross during the blood drive at the Red Cross office in Hawthorne, NY. 

• Are you ready to turn your compassion into action? As a Disaster Casework volunteer, you will connect directly with people affected by disasters big and small to help them take the next steps in their recovery. Sign up here.

In Case You Missed It

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive in Greenwich. (Photo: Kevin Suttlehan)

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 168 adults and 76 children for 44 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• The Greenwich Time reported on the annual Greenwich Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, held on Saturday where the Metro NY North Red Cross partnered with Greenwich local law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services for a little friendly competition to see which agency could donate the most blood.

• Senator Pete Harckham posted this PSA last Friday to help promote the home fire safety campaign and how the community could get free smoke alarms installed in his district.

• In our latest “Three Questions” blog post, volunteer and recent retiree Marian Ford talks about her experience providing assistance after local disasters and how she fits into the Red Cross family. 

• Last Wednesday, the Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 19 families after a 3-alarm fire on Vermont Street left dozens displaced. PIX11, NY1, AMNY, News12, The Patch and The NY Times reported on the fire. 

• Kelsey Weisburd shared why she went from an intern to volunteer in our latest #MyRedCrossLife post. 

• Early Tuesday morning, CBS NY reported on a 4-Alarm fire on 1st Ave in Manhattan where the Red Cross assisted 7 families. 

• Thank you, Senator Kevin Thomas, for helping us to #EndHomeFires last Monday, as we installed smoke alarms in homes on Long Island. 

• Earlier this week, Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone, Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services and leaders of the fire service throughout the county held a press conference with the Red Cross on Long Island to promote fire safety for the holidays. 

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Dec 15: Join us for a Volunteer Info Session to learn about our many volunteer opportunities and how you can apply. 
• Dec 16: Join us for a special preparedness presentation: Prepare, Respond, Recover: What to do When Disaster Strikes co-hosted by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.
• Are you ready to turn your compassion into action? As a Disaster Casework volunteer, you will connect directly with people affected by disasters big and small to help take the next steps in their recovery journey. Sign up here. 

“Three Questions” with Marian Ford

Marian Ford, a retired social security worker from the Bronx, was initially introduced to the American Red Cross after receiving help from our organization as a child when her family’s house burned down. Ford joined the Red Cross in 2014 and as part of her Red Cross volunteer work she is a member of our Disaster Action Team, helping families affected by fires, building collapses and other emergencies across the five boroughs. She also serves as a blood donor ambassador.

Can you talk about your work responding to local disasters?

I’m part of Red Cross Disaster Action Team. It’s on-call. We respond when disaster strikes. Usually fires. We arrive on scene to assist the residents. Whether they need a place to stay, emergency funds, or any other things we can provide, like clothing, we address immediate needs.

When we arrive on scene, some people are like, “Oh, you come out to all fires?’ Every time there's a fire, if it’s a residential fire, the Red Cross is there. It is refreshing to see that we’re able to help people. Residents we assist are very appreciative. And the community also sees that we’re helping.

What do you bring to the Red Cross?

I bring my experience working with people from all walks of life. I bring empathy. I bring a unique way of looking at things. I feel that I can read people pretty well. And I don’t take myself too seriously. 

What does it mean for you to volunteer with the Red Cross?

I think it’s pledging an honor to volunteer for this agency. And I’m very, very appreciative of that.

Before I retired, I worked in an office and people came to me. Now as a volunteer I go to them--where they live, in the community. I go into people’s homes, into their neighborhoods. You really learn a lot about people’s circumstances.

Just recently with Hurricane Ida, there were so many basement apartments [affected]. I never really thought about that. I would never imagine that people could drown inside an apartment. I still get chills thinking about it. [Volunteering with the Red Cross] puts me on the scene of these situations. It gives me a whole different perspective that I didn’t have before.