In Case You Missed It

Red Crossers from across the country including our own from the
GNY region have deployed to the southeast after Hurricane Helene.

From Sep 23-29, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 89 adults and 29 children following 35 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Our hearts are with everyone impacted by Hurricane Helene. It will take days to understand the full scope and magnitude of the storm, but here are three things you can do right now to help people affected.
• Red Crossers from Greater New York have stepped up to help people impacted by Helene, including Long Island volunteer Jeffery Davis (see him on CBS2) and Rockland resident Brian Gerber (see him on News12).
• As we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we shared incredible photos of volunteer Edras Hidalgo.
• Last Wednesday, we held our latest "We Were There" Panel Discussion on how the Red Cross and our partners mobilize to prepare households and communities for disasters big and small. (Due to technical difficulties, the recording picks up after introductions with the question "When did you first realize the value of working with partners?")
• Our new CEO Doreen Thomann-Howe met with Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and we are grateful and excited for our continued work together.
• Doreen was also joined by our GNY Board Chair, Jill Coyle, and our Director of Service to the Armed Forces, Lallita Maharaj, and met with Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General of the IFRC, along with representatives from Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from around the globe to celebrate the official opening of the IFRC NYC office.
• Meet Team Red Cross member Hayden Hollen, who is running the NYC Marathon to help raise money in support of our Red Cross mission.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Help save lives in your community! Volunteer with a team to install smoke detectors, provide home fire prevention tips, and escape route planning in your neighborhood and around the Greater New York area. We will train you to deliver the services needed. Drivers in particular are needed in the New York City area. Learn more about how you can help! Apply today.
• Nov 3: Just 6 weeks to go until the 2024 TCS NYC Marathon! Good luck to our Team Red Cross members as they train to run the 26.2 miles across NYC in support of our lifesaving mission.

In Case You Missed It

GNY Red Cross marching in the 48th Annual Queens Hispanic Parade.

From Sep 16-22, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 71 adults and 14 children following 22 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Our team was proud to say ¡Presente! during the 48th Annual Queens Hispanic Parade/ Desfile Hispano de Queens.
• We also celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard in Mount Vernon on a beautiful Sunday.
• Last Saturday, community partner Tzu Chi New York and the Red Cross helped make Brooklyn homes safer by installing free smoke alarms and providing fire safety education to residents.
• Over the weekend, the #LIRedCross team was excited to meet with attendees of the Long Island Family Day event at the Cradle of Aviation Museum to teach hands-only CPR and share emergency preparedness tips.
• As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, we featured one of our fearless leaders, Regional Disaster Officer for the Greater New York region, Dario Diaz, who has dedicated the past 30 years to serving the Red Cross.
• Last Friday, our Service to the Armed Forces team was honored to be part of the Greater New York City Veteran and Military Family Summit.
• Patch and News 12 reported on a fatal fire in East Flatbush where the Red Cross assisted a family with emergency housing and financial aid.
• The Harvey and Ellen Weisenberg Special Needs Foundation made a donation to American Red Cross on Long Island to help our work supporting military families.
• News 12 also reported on the Red Cross assisting residents after a fire on 15th Street in Brooklyn.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Help save lives in your community! Volunteer with a team to install smoke detectors, provide home fire prevention tips, and escape route planning in your neighborhood and around the Greater New York area. We will train you to deliver the services needed. Drivers in particular are needed in the New York City area. Learn more about how you can help! Apply today.
• Sept 25: September is National Preparedness Month and so our seventh installment of “We Were There” series will focus on how the Red Cross and our partners have mobilized to prepare households and communities for disasters.
• Nov 3: Just 6 weeks to go until the 2024 TCS NYC Marathon! Good luck to our Team Red Cross members as they train to run the 26.2 miles across NYC in support of our lifesaving mission.

In Case You Missed It

94 units of life-saving blood on a beautiful Sunday drive! (Photo: Nathalie Sayago)

From Sep 9-Sep 15, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 123 adults and 38 children following 39 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities.

Last Week in Review

• Thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves on Sunday to donate blood during our Delta sponsored blood drive at our GNY headquarters — we collected 94 units of life-saving blood on a beautiful Sunday!
• Happy Mexican Independence Day! Our volunteers joined the festivities on Madison Avenue on Sunday and helped share tips on how we can be better prepared in case of home fires and other disasters.
• On Thursday, our Long Island Board of Directors hosted its quarterly meeting, where our board members heard about the work of the Red Cross during emergencies locally and across the country, as well as how our volunteers are supporting members of the community to build resiliency.
• On the anniversary of the 9/11, we remembered the over 57,000 team members and volunteers who contributed to the relief efforts after the tragedy, while other volunteers commemorated 9/11 by helping disabled veterans at Harbor VA Hospital in St. Albans to pay respects to the fallen.
• To kick-off #HispanicHeritageMonth, we shared this story on disaster responder Ramon Barreras and why he decided to volunteer with the Red Cross.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Sept 21: The East Harlem COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) is holding an Emergency Preparedness Fair.
• Sept 22: Our team is so excited to participate in Long Island Family Day at the Cradle of Aviation Museum!
• Sept 25: September is National Preparedness Month and so our seventh installment of “We Were There” series will focus on how the Red Cross and our partners have mobilized to prepare households and communities for disasters.

In Case You Missed It

NYC Emergency Management National Preparedness Month Family Day at the Staten Island Children's Museum.

From Sep 2-Sep 8, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 129 adults and 37 children following 39 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities.

Last Week in Review

• The Staten Island Advance covered the NYC Emergency Management National Preparedness Month Family Day at the Staten Island Children's Museum on Sunday.
• On Saturday, we were glad to see so many Red Crossers join a multi-lingual shelter simulation at our midtown Manhattan HQ.
• Last Thursday, NY State Assemblymember Steven Raga teamed up with the Red Cross to install free smoke alarms in his community of Maspeth, Queens.
• News 12 reported on the Red Cross assisting residents after a fire on Bainbridge St in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
• Last Tuesday, CBS2, FOX5, and News 12 reported on the Red Cross assisting 5 families after a fire on Avalon Gardens Drive in Nanuet (Rockland County).
• Last week, Senator Bill Weber joined our Metro NY North Board meeting to provide an update on what is happening in the state legislature.
• The West Point Garrison recognized Red Cross volunteers Don and Ida Hahn for their unwavering commitment in supporting blood drives at West Point.
• Last month, FOX5 interviewed Long Island CEO, Jose, and his husband Craig about what it means to them to be able to donate blood under the updated FDA policies that went into effect last year.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Sept 1-15: Donate blood in the memory Port Chester Police Officer Christopher Bernal.
• Sept 16: Fall into service and join us for a Virtual Volunteer Information Session.
• Sept 21: The East Harlem COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) is holding an Emergency Preparedness Fair.
• Sept 22: Our team is so excited to participate in Long Island Family Day at the Cradle of Aviation Museum!
• Sept 25: September is National Preparedness Month and so our seventh installment of “We Were There” series will focus on how the Red Cross and our partners have mobilized to prepare households and communities for disasters.

In Case You Missed It

Helping out at the Veterans Ice Cream Social at the VA Medical Center in St. Albans. (Photo: Rick Gunter)

From Aug 26-Sep 2, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 167 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

• Did you catch our team dancing and sharing preparedness information during the 10th Annual Tropical Salsa Fest in Brentwood over the weekend?
• Our SAF team supported the Veterans Ice Cream social at the VA Medical Center in St. Albans on Saturday.
• Last Thursday, NY1, PIX11 and CBS2 reported on the Red Cross assisting 11 residents following an explosion caused by a gas leak in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn.
• FOX5, News12, NY1, ABC7, NBC4 and the Brooklyn Eagle reported on the Red Cross assisting 10 families after a fire on Dean St. in the Ocean Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn last Tuesday.
• Earlier this summer, we were happy to join Radiolab and Dr. Glaucomflecken for a live taping of a podcast show emphasizing the importance of learning CPR — and our Red Cross instructors taught the live studio audience.
• VIDEO HIGHLIGHT: On August 21, the Red Cross assisted 4 families after a 2-alarm fire on Decatur Ave in the Bronx.
• Gregory Elukowich shared why he’s been donating blood since he was18.
• In Metro NY North CEO Stephanie Dunn Ashley’s latest column for the Greenwich Sentinel, she focused on starting the school year safely.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Help save lives in your community! Volunteer with a team to install smoke detectors, provide home fire prevention tips, and escape route planning in your neighborhood and around the Greater New York area. Learn more about how you can help!
• Sept 1-15: Donate blood in the memory Port Chester Police Officer Christopher Bernal.
• Sept 21: The East Harlem COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) is holding an Emergency Preparedness Fair.