In Case You Missed It

Red Cross volunteers providing canteen services at the 9/11 memorial
at the St. Patrick's Cathedral. (Photos: Vivian Moy)

Over the last seven days, the Greater New York Red Cross has continued to support communities affected by Hurricane Ida. In addition, we have continued to provide providing emergency assistance to individuals affected by other local disasters, mostly home fires.

Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Over the weekend, on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we vowed to never forget:
• How the Red Cross first responded to the attacks.
• Our five FDNY DART members who lost their lives that day, and the two we have lost since.
• The volunteers who joined the Red Cross in the aftermath of 9/11 and have remained dedicated to our mission since.
• Red Cross volunteers provided canteen services and support for the families who attended the 9/11 Remembrance Memorial Service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
• Red Crossers joined the Greenwich community at the 9/11 Memorial held at Cos Cob Park on Saturday morning to honor those who were lost 20 years ago.
• Long-time volunteer and Hudson Valley Chapter board member James Halpern was interviewed as part of this ABC News 10 Albany report on mental health first volunteers helping people cope with 9/11 trauma.
• We held a livestream panel discussion--Reflections and Lessons Learned from 9/11--with four outstanding Red Crossers who were apart of the historic response.
• Volunteers Bruce Vesloski and Edras Hidalgo reflect on their time in Louisiana for Ida relief as their deployments come to an end.
• Red Cross volunteers from across the country who traveled to our region to help support communities impacted by Hurricane #ida were greeted by Western New York volunteer Diana McLaughlin of Rochester N.Y. who helps check those volunteers in to get them assigned, housed, and out in to the field.
• Last Friday, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, Senator Jessica Ramos and the NYC Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, all came together to distribute Red Cross clean-up kits to the Ida-impacted community of East Elmhurst, Queens.
• Last Wednesday, we held a livestream presentation on how to prepare, respond and recover from local emergencies and large-scale disasters, co-hosted by Senator Phil Boyle.
• We thank you Congressman Adriano Espaillat for sponsoring a drive and for helping to save lives during the week-long 9/11 Remembrance Blood Drives.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Sept 14: Learn about our many volunteer opportunities and how you can apply by attending our Disaster Volunteer Information Session livestream.
• Sept 15, 29: Join us for a virtual preparedness presentation--Prepare, Respond and Recover: What to do When Disaster Strikes—in partnership with NY State Senator Anthony Palumbo and NY State Rep. Harry Arora.
• Sept 21: Sign up to learn Hands-Only CPR through this livestream presentation co-hosted by Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas.
• Volunteer Services is looking for two full-time NYC Civic Corps members. This is a paid opportunity (stipend) ideal for a recent college grad who is mission-focused and looking to gain nonprofit volunteer management experience. Learn more and apply here.
• We’re looking for volunteers to help staff disaster shelters, with a specific need for health professionals. Apply today at redcross.org/volunteertoday! For more information, please contact recruitmentgny@redcross.org.