In Case You Missed It

Former GNY Red Crossers Hector Pereira and Mitch Kassel responding to flooding in Florida.

From June 10-16, the American Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 113 adults and 40 children following 32 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from the past week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Check out some safety tips from the Red Cross in the NY Post on how you can stay safe from the heat as temperatures are expected to rise above 100 this week.
• Our Service to the Armed Forces Pet Therapy Team were at the Newburgh Armory supporting veterans on National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
• Two former GNY Red Crossers Hector Pereira and Mitch Kassel (now with the South Florida Region) responded to the floodings in Florida.
• For Father’s Day, we shared this video about long-time Red Cross volunteer Mike Emmerman with a special message from his son, TJ who is currently a Brooklyn DAT responder.
• #LIRedCross had a table at the NAACP Juneteenth Celebration in Islip.
• The Long Island Disaster Action Team responded to a fire in Hempstead on Saturday, helping 18 people, and were covered by Newsday, News12 Long Island, and Patch.
• The #MetroNYNRedCross opened a shelter at the Police Athletic League in Yonkers for two nights to assist residents after a fire on Saratoga Avenue on Thursday, covered here by News12 Westchester.
• At our Metro NY North Chapter Board meeting last Tuesday, we heard an inspiring story from Greenwich Police Sgt. Jason Lyman, who used his CPR training to save a life in Old Greenwich.
• Phoebe Baluyot shared what her AmeriCorps experience was like and why she chose to work with the Red Cross.
• The national American Red Cross social media channels reshared our story of Craig and Jose donating blood together for the first time as a married gay couple, highlighting the more inclusive FDA regulations about blood donation. #PrideMonth

Upcoming Events and Activities

• June 20: The 6th “We Were There” panel discussion (Zoom registration) will focus on our GNY members who have expertise in working with families and children across multiple lines of service.
• June 23: Join us for our FY24 Volunteer Awards Ceremony (registered volunteers only) as we recognize the outstanding contributions of our dedicated volunteers. We look forward to seeing you all there to share some Lunch and some quality time!
• June 24: Join the SI COAD for the Spring 2024 Tabletop Exercise, hosted in collaboration with the American Red Cross of Greater New York. This engaging, discussion-based event offers a valuable opportunity to collaborate with a range of local organizations and stakeholders and explore various role(s) during a disaster scenario.