In Case You Missed It

Red Cross responded to the partial building collapse in the Bronx. (Source: News 12)

From December 11th to December 17th, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 220 adults and 71 children following 39 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from that past week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Saturday night after the fire on Caryl Ave in Yonkers, the American Red Cross worked with officials from the City of Yonkers to open an emergency shelter at the Peter Chema Sr. Community Center to support any residents needing a warm place to go and to connect with Red Cross caseworkers.
• Earlier in the day, the Metro NY North team was simulating an emergency shelter operation at the Rockland County Fire Training Center to help responders prepare for disasters that displace many residents, such as the one in Yonkers later that day.
• Over the weekend, some of our #MetroNYNorth Service to the Armed Forces team helped place wreaths on the graves of fallen heroes with Wreaths Across America.
• It was a beautiful day on Saturday to help make homes safer against the risk of fires on Saturday. Red Cross volunteers alongside FDNY & FDNY Foundation installed free smoke alarms and educated our Upper Manhattan neighbors about fire safety.
• Throughout last week, the Red Cross responded to the partial building collapse in the Bronx and supported the nearly 200 residents who were displaced by helping operate a service center at Bronx Community College. Red Cross efforts were covered by the New York Times, USA Today, New York Daily News, amNY, Univision, CBS2, NBC4, FOX5, ABC7, PIX11, News12, and others.
• The Red Cross responded to a fire on Staten Island on Friday, covered here by Gothamist.
• Last Friday, our Service to the Armed Forces team spent the day at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn delivering 12 resiliency workshops to services members and contractors on base.
• ABC7NY’s Bill Ritter reported that FDNY and the Red Cross are teaming up to install free smoke alarms in NYC homes and raise awareness for fire safety, showing FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh personally installing smoke alarms alongside Red Cross workers.
• Metro NY North Chapter CEO Stephanie Dunn Ashley and board members spread holiday cheer to first responders in Greenwich, Conn.
• The Long Island Chapter gathered to recognize amazing Disaster Cycle Services volunteers, including some who helped provide mental health services to students after the tragic bus crash involving Farmingdale High School.
• Last Tuesday, we joined with Brooklyn State Senator Iwen Chu to discuss fire safety and preparedness while she introduced new legislation to address lithium-ion fires in residential buildings, reported by News 12.
• Long Island Chapter CEO Jose Dominguez sat down with Connoisseur Media for an interview, discussing holiday safety tips, what it means to volunteer, Taylor Swift, and more.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• Year in Review 2023: As we close out 2023, we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season, and invite you to review some of our region's proudest and most memorable moments.
• Dec 20: Does war stop during the holiday season? Can enemies put down their guns and play a game of soccer? Join the American Red Cross IHL Program to explore some extraordinary moments in history when the guns of war have fallen silent during the holidays.
• Jan 12: Join national Red Cross leaders Brad Kieserman, Jennifer Pipa, and Koby Langley at a Special Town Hall Meeting. They will provide an update on operations across the country, share their vision for 2024, and answer your questions. RSVP via this link.

In Case You Missed It

Red Crossers went to Stuyvesant High School to teach Hands-only CPR
(Photo: Sean Patrick McNerney)

From December 5th to December 11th, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 100 adults and 48 children following 42 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from that past week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• We partnered with Congresswoman Grace Meng to make a PSA about our Sound The Alarm program to end home fires in New York City.
• Red Crossers taught nearly 500 future leaders how to do Hands-Only CPR at Stuyvesant High School last week.
• Last Thursday, lohud.com published a special op-ed by Metro NY North CEO Stephanie Dunn Ashley about how the climate crisis is amplifying the need for blood donations and disaster volunteers.
• Our Senior Disaster Program Manager, Brian Gerber, shared a touching mission moment from Hurricane Ida in a clip we shared last week.
• We shared this clip last week of when we honored Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom at the Women Who Serve America event in November for her lifetime of service.
• Last Monday, a 4th grade student made a thank you card for our volunteers Barbara and Helene who gave Pillowcase Program presentation at South Salem Elementary School.
• News12 Westchester covered a fire in White Plains where the Red Cross provided assistance to 7 people.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• 📢 Calling all Gamers 📢 This holiday season to help ensure that no family faces a disaster alone, join our Gamers vs Disasters fundraiser. Gamers can now join our #RescueRoyale, a charity based stream-a-thon, to help assist people affected by disasters big and small.
• Year in Review 2023: As we close out 2023, we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season, and invite you to review some of our region's proudest and most memorable moments.
• Dec 14: Give the gift of time! Join us on Microsoft Teams to learn about our most needed volunteer opportunities and how you can sign up to join us.
• Jan 12: Join national Red Cross leaders Brad Kieserman, Jennifer Pipa, and Koby Langley at a Special Town Hall Meeting. They will provide an update on operations across the country, share their vision for 2024, and answer your questions. RSVP via this link.

In Case You Missed It

The Greater NY Red Cross helped light the Fifth Avenue Snowflake to kickoff the season of giving.
(Photo: Nathalie Sayago)

From November 28 to December 4, the Red Cross in Greater New York provided emergency assistance to 118 adults and 32 children following 43 local disaster responses. Here are some highlights from that past week and a preview of upcoming activities. (See below)

Last Week in Review

• Thank you Fifth Avenue for choosing the American Red Cross to officially light the 57th Street snowflake and for making us this year’s #TheGiftofFifth partner.
• Last Saturday, we held a Battle of The Badges Blood Drive in Greenwich, Conn. where local police, firefighters and EMS battled it out to see who could inspire the most blood donations. We had over 60 pints of blood donated, which is 180 lives they potentially saved! You can donate anytime through the end of December using this BloodLink.
• News 12 helped to get the word out for an amazing Prepare the Town: Mount Vernon emergency preparedness community event. The turnout was great, and our partners in Mount Vernon were thrilled with the results.
• Turner Construction Company joined members of our Service to the Armed Forces team to spread holiday cheer at the Bronx VA Hopsital by helping clean up the garden and decorate the indoors with holiday festivity.
• CBS2 covered a fire on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Thursday where Red Cross responders are helping those impacted.
• ABC7, News12, and Brooklyn Paper covered a fire in Bushwick on Wednesday where Red Cross responders are helping four families.
• Last Monday, the Giving Machines were unveiled at Times Square! Through the #LightTheWorld Giving Machines hosted by our partner The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can donate directly to the Red Cross and provide help and hope to others this season.
• Home Fire Campaign volunteer Chenxi Shi shares how many smoke alarms he has installed in the community and what he enjoys most about volunteering with the program in this clip.
• Long Island Congressman Nick LaLota is helping to “Sound the Alarm” about home fires with this video PSA.
• We shared this clip last week of when we honored First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell for her lifetime of service, including her current leadership in NYC Emergency Management, at the Women Who Serve America event earlier in November.

Upcoming Events and Activities

• 📢 Calling all Gamers 📢This holiday season to help ensure that no family faces a disaster alone, join our Gamers vs Disasters fundraiser. Gamers can now join our #RescueRoyale, a charity based stream-a-thon, to help assist people affected by disasters big and small.
• Year in Review 2023: As we close out 2023, we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season, and invite you to review some of our region's proudest and most memorable moments.
• Dec 9: Red Cross volunteers will be tabling at the City of White Plains Volunteer & Wellness Festival from 12p to 4p at The Westchester (4th Floor), 125 Westchester Avenue. Come say hello!
• Through Dec 9: 10% of sales at POLOGEORGIS in Greenwich will benefit the American Red Cross Metro NY North chapter.
• Dec 14: Give the gift of time! Join us on Microsoft Teams to learn about our most needed volunteer opportunities and how you can sign up to join us.