In Case You Missed It

Red Cross volunteer Erica McKenna and her daughter supporting the need for blood drives.

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 73 adults and 22 children for 27 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below.)

Last Week in Review 

• The Red Cross provided financial assistance, emergency housing and comfort items to three families following a fire in Queens on Sunday.

• Newsday honored the 25th anniversary of downed TWA Flight 800 on July 17. The coverage featured Greater NY Red Cross volunteer Edward Hardy. 

• On July 15, we live streamed a disaster preparedness seminar with New York State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.

• We congratulated our volunteers who are now ready to be deployed as drivers, having passed their training and received their certifications to operate our new Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs). 

• We concluded our summer safety video series with Lipica Shah with this video on swimming pool and water safety tips.

• We featured the story of Erica McKenna, a Red Cross volunteer passionate about blood drives and donations, whose infant daughter underwent 8 blood transfusions.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• July 21: New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solanges is teaming up with our Long Island chapter for a virtual disaster preparedness seminar. 

• July 21: We’ll be holding an online volunteer informational session. Come by to learn more about what it means to be a part of the Red Cross.

• July 26, 27: We’re livestreaming back-to-back online hands-only CPR training dates co-hosted by Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar and Senator Elijah Reichlin-Meinick.

• We are actively recruiting for the following volunteer positions: Preparedness Team members, Disaster Action team members and Disaster Workforce Engagement members. Apply today at  redcross.org/volunteertoday! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org. 

• The American Red Cross has issued a call for blood. We are experiencing nationwide blood shortages and are in dire need of donors to help us save lives. Find a blood drive near you today.