In Case You Missed It June 6th

Long Island Red Cross and partners at this year's Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to 134 adults and 55 children following 40 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• The Long Island Red Cross and partners kicked off the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season with this Preparedness Press Conference.
• Thanks to our Red Cross volunteers and partners who participated across our region in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester and Rockland counties this weekend. We appreciate your efforts to practice and learn to respond to disasters big and small.
• The Metro NY North Red Cross chapter joined the Day of Hope event set up by the City of Mount Vernon, NY, and the Westchester Latinos Unidos to assist displaced residents from the Mount Vernon Avenue fire.
• The NY Red Cross and partners kicked off the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season with the Long Island Red Cross Hurricane Press Conference
• June is National #PetPreparednessMonth. The Red Cross Pet Safety mobile app can help you discover how to include your pet in your emergency plan. 
• New York State Representative Matt Slater announced his partnership with the American Red Cross on June 1st, joining efforts to promote the Sound the Alarm campaign. 
• Red Cross volunteers have worked hard this past week to help set up Safety Town an awareness and accident prevention program for rising kindergartners. Enroll your student here!

Upcoming Events and Activities

• June 5-9, 12-16: Safety Town is a comprehensive one-week safety education program offered every summer by the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter that teaches awareness and accident prevention skills to children entering kindergarten in the fall. This event will be hosted in person in 2023. 
• June 8: Join us for the Women Who Lead Luncheon by the Tiffany Circle of Women Leaders. This year’s panel will feature women in sports. Purchase tickets here.
• June 28: Join the International Services team for Indiana Jones and the Law of War: a discussion of International Humanitarian Law. RSVP here! 
• NYC Civic Corps is accepting applications for an open AmeriCorps position. View the position details here.

In Case You Missed It

Red Cross Volunteers and Pet Therapy dogs at the Intrepid to welcome services members for Fleet Week.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to 99 adults and 32 children following 42 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• For Memorial Day Weekend, Red Crossers participated in activities throughout the region honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as current service members.
• Service to the Armed Forces volunteers and pet therapy dogs from Hudson Valley Paws for Cause were at the Intrepid this weekend for Fleet Week, welcoming service members and teaching CPR to passerbys.
• Placed flags at the Calverton Cemetery on Long Island.
• Marched in the Memorial Day Parade in Mt. Vernon.
• The Long Island Red Cross participated in the Bethpage Air Show practice.
• Metro NY North CEO Stephanie Dunn Ashley wrote about supporting military families in honor of Military Appreciation Month in her monthly column for the Greenwich Sentinel.
• Also on Saturday, the Metro NY North Red Cross tabled the Greenwich Town Party with other non-profit organizations. A parade kicked-off the event earlier in the week.
• We celebrated Red Cross volunteer nurses for National Nurse Month at the Disaster Health Services meeting.
• Our Government Liaison team met with newly elected Senator Iwen Chu and Assemblyman Steven Raga on the same day to discuss Red Cross work in their communities and future partnership opportunities.
• We spotlighted volunteer Bown Yu for raising his hand to deploy to the disaster relief operation underway in Guam after Typhoon Mawar devastated the region.
• Disaster Cycle Services held their bi-annual meeting at the Tarrytown Senior Center and GNY HQ to share ideas, get to know one another, and celebrate the work of volunteers.
• NY State Assembly Member Dana Levenberg is helping to “Sound the Alarm” about home fires with this PSA.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Be a part of Red Cross history! Honor your loved ones by purchasing a commemorative brick at our Metro NY North Headquarters in Greenwich, Conn.
• June 5-9, 12-16: Safety Town is a comprehensive one-week safety education program offered every summer by the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter that teaches awareness and accident prevention skills to children entering kindergarten in the fall. This event will be hosted in person in 2023.
• June 8: Join us for the Women Who Lead Luncheon by the Tiffany Circle of Women Leaders. This year’s panel will feature women in sports. Purchase tickets here.

In Case You Missed It

Sound the Alarm in Manhattan (Photos: Eric Strausman)

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to 145 adults and 54 children following 42 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Last Saturday, the Long Island Red Cross held a shelter drill at the Brentwood West Middle School.
• Thanks to everyone who helped make Sound the Alarm NYC 2023 a success last Wednesday! More than 80 volunteers came together to help #endhomefires!
• Last week, we welcomed Fatima from Cruz Roja Española to our NYC office. We shared stories of how our chapters support communities during emergencies and promised to visit if we are ever in Spain.
• The Long Island Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to a multi-family fire on Leahy Avenue in Brentwood. Seven adults and seven children received direct client assistance.
• Continuing to celebrate #AAPIHeritageMonth, we posted a story featuring Red Cross volunteer Shah Khan who is a medical student and Disaster Action Team supervisor and has been with the Red Cross since 2016.
• NY State Assemblyman Matt Slater is helping to “Sound the Alarm” with this PSA.
• Last week, Veronica Beard hosted our Red & White Ball Wrap Party, featuring delicious treats from the Habitual Hostess.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• As more people rely on the American Red Cross for help, the need for compassionate volunteers has never been greater. Join our disaster team and make a difference in people’s lives.
• May 24: War. War never changes. The art of war & video games. Join the Red Cross for a journey through iconic gaming moments to learn how the law of war works.
• May 25: Wartime Protection of the Environment, Part II: Exploring Issues. In Part II of this new series, we use the recently adopted UN International Law Commission’s Principles on Protection of the Environment in Armed Conflict (PERAC) as a backdrop to explore the issues created in the cross-sections between climate change, environmental degradation and conflict before, during and after the conflict.
• June 5-9, 12-16: Safety Town is a comprehensive one-week safety education program offered every summer by the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter that teaches awareness and accident prevention skills to children entering kindergarten in the fall. This event will be hosted in person in 2023.

In Case You Missed It

Meet Mayhem the pet therapy dog and Metro NY North Red Cross Volunteer!

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to 170 adults and 58 children following 60 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Last Tuesday, Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard thanked the Red Cross for helping setup a reception center and supporting 17 families displaced by a fire. CBS NY and Patch.com also reported on the fire.
• Last Friday, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson and GNY volunteers installed free smoke alarms and provided fire safety education in the Bronx.
• Last week, two ribbon cutting ceremonies were held on the same day for the QBE Foundation Client Consultation Room and the Tess Sheil Café.
• The Long Island Red Cross assisted 4 families after a fire in Brentwood (Suffolk County).
• American Red Cross in Greater New York Region team along with the City of New Rochelle, NY government agencies and community partners came together to install free smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information in area homes in New Rochelle!
• Checking in with our GNY teammates who are deployed to support communities affected by tornadoes in Arkansas courtesy of photos from Vivian Moy.
• National Red Cross featured our very own 4-legged volunteer Mayhem on their social channels! Mayhem is a 2-year-old American Bulldog who serves as a therapy dog for the Greater NY Region.
• During the Red Cross Northeast Division meeting, GNY Region received an award for demonstrating creativity and collaboration in the creation of the Kid Kit, a relief pack designed to support children after an emergency.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Volunteers are needed to help comfort and support people who are forced from their homes due to fires, storms, and other emergencies, so they don’t have to face tough times alone. Join the American Red Cross Disaster Team!
• May 18: Spring into Action! Join Us at our Volunteer Information Session to learn about how you can make a difference!,
• June 5-9, 12-16: Safety Town is a comprehensive one-week safety education program offered every summer by the American Red Cross Metro NY North Chapter that teaches awareness and accident prevention skills to children entering kindergarten in the fall. This event will be hosted in person in 2023.

In Case You Missed It

Greater NY Automobile Dealers Association, Pam Farr (center) and 
General Eric M. Smith (right) were honored at the Red and White Ball.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to 274 adults and 73 children following 46 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• ABC7NY, News 12 and 1010 Wins reported on the Red Cross assisting residents following flooding that led to a wall collapse in the Tremont section of the Bronx.
• The Daily Voice reported on the Long Island Red Cross assisting a family after a fire in Lake View on Long Island last Saturday.
• Sadly, there were two fatal fires last week. ABC7NY, Gothamist, CBS NY, NY1 and NBC NY reported on the fires in Elmhurst and Brooklyn and the Red Cross supporting families.
• Last Saturday, the Metro NY North Chapter held its annual Red and White Ball, an incredible evening to benefit the American Red Cross. Thank you to each and every donor, sponsor and supporter. View photos from the event here.
• NYC Home Fire Campaign Team kicked off "Sound the Alarm" 2023 by installing 41 smoke alarms in 20 homes and educate 31 residents in the Bronx.
• Westchester County Executive George Latimer and NY State Assemblyman Matt Slater recorded a PSA in support of the Sound the Alarm program. Stay tuned for the video!
• We featured volunteer Gayle Colacicco in this story about her decades of service to the military and the Red Cross that has taken her across the U.S. and to numerous countries.
• Two Saturdays ago, Queens Disaster Action Team and Home Fire Team volunteers gathered at the Corona Public Library to celebrate #NationalVolunteerWeek & #EarthDay.
• The Long Island Red Cross welcomed two new board members.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• May 6: Sound the Alarm is coming to New Rochelle! Sign up for free smoke alarm installations here.
• May 18: Spring into Action! Join Us at our Volunteer Information Session to learn about how you can make a difference!

In Case You Missed It

Pedro the Preparedness Penguin lends a hand to the Home Fire Team
installing free smoke alarms in the community. (Photo: Eli Dardis)

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to 288 adults and 83 children following 71 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Pedro the Penguin took time out of his busy schedule teaching children preparedness to help install free smoke alarms and teach fire safety in the community for Earth Day!
• CBS NY and NY1 reported on the Red Cross assisting 5 households, 13 Adults, 5 children, 2 pets following neighboring homes following the parking garage collapse on Ann St in Lower Manhattan.
• We were so thrilled to have NYS DHSES Commissioner Bray join us for our triboard retreat this week. We are so proud of our partnership to help prepare, respond and recovery from emergencies across New York!
• Just one person can make a difference. We learned this lesson from Terry Jenik, Red Cross volunteer and recipient Certificate of Merit for her heroic actions that saved a life.
• This #nationalvolunteerweek, Service to the Armed Forces Director Gregg Porter recognized volunteer Robert Bernstein with a challenge coin for his impact in supporting military members, veterans and their families across the Greater NY Region.
• We published a new blog post “3 Questions with volunteer John Angulat” who joined the Red Cross in 2018 and is an active member of the Disaster Action Team.
• Last Tuesday, Council member Carmen De La Rosa stopped by our office to record a PSA supporting the “Sound the Alarm” fire safety campaign.
• Lohud.com and News 12 reported on the Metro NY North Red Cross Chapter responding to a multi-family fire in White Plains (Westchester County) by setting up a reception center for the 8 households displaced.
• We celebrated volunteers at our Chapter Office #NationalVolunteerWeek!

Upcoming Events and Activities

• April 29: The American Red Cross Red & White Ball: A Salute to Service and Valor honors heroes in our community who rise above tremendous obstacles to help others. Military honorees, national and local heroes, and our corporate honoree will share stories that highlight the strength, courage and humanity that is found within each of us.
• May 6: Sound the Alarm is coming to New Rochelle! Sign up for free smoke alarm installations here.

“Three Questions” with Red Cross Volunteer John Angulat

By Erianne Lewis, 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.

Born and raised on Long Island and now a resident of Westchester County, volunteer John Angulat joined the Red Cross in 2018. After retiring six months ago, Angulat now thoroughly enjoys almost a fulltime volunteer role. Angulat is a Disaster Action Team (DAT) team member, which means that he provides relief and compassion to residents after local disasters.

What led you to join the Red Cross?

There was a desire to volunteer. But I think, without sounding too altruistic, it was self-reflection. I somewhat realized that I had a pretty good life. I didn't grow up wealthy: working class mother and father. When I think of the state of the world, and what people go through, in the grand scheme of things I didn't do too badly. And it was just a desire to just pay a little back. I just started feeling guilty about not being engaged. I just didn't want to take life for a ride anymore. So, I said: “Well, I'm gonna volunteer.” I didn't actually start out with the Red Cross. There's a website that's called Volunteer New York, and it's a listing of all the volunteer opportunities that are available in the area…it's almost like a help wanted listing. I was doing one-off volunteer opportunities, sometimes with photography, sometimes something else. And then one day I saw an advertisement that Red Cross was looking for Disaster Action Team responders, and it was in my area. So, I said to myself, “I'll try it,” and never looked back.

What is a moment you will never forget from your time with the Red Cross?

Me and a partner had responded to a what we call a multi-family fire. A number of people were profoundly affected by the fire. We were just trying to be as nice as we could to the people, and as kind as possible. One of the worst things you can go through, other than losing loved one, is losing your home. We were working with them for quite some time, just trying to get them calmed down. When all was all said and done, we packed everything up. As I walked down from the porch to the sidewalk, there were crowds of people. And as I was walking to my car, somebody started clapping and then everyone else was clapping and I knew that they were clapping for us. I’m still moved by it. It kind of hammered home what you're doing for these people. In the long term they've still got a long process to go through. But at least you've gotten them through the next few days and pointed them in the right direction. It was touching, it really was. I don't think I’ll ever forget that.

What would you say to encourage someone to become a Red Cross volunteer?

Try it. You have nothing to lose. You are a volunteer. There’s a whole different mindset when you are doing volunteer work, rather than when you are being paid by someone. Just a different mindset, a different approach. What could go wrong? You try, you don’t like it, you just say “Hey it’s not for me.” But at least you can say, “I tried it.” That’s what I would tell anyone. Try it and I think you’ll like it. I really do.