Monday, June 30, 2014

In Case You Missed It

Red Crossers at the scene of Brooklyn fire on Saturday
(Picture: Rena Silverman)
Upcoming Events

  • The Fourth of July is this Friday. Check out our safety tips to ensure a safe long weekend for you and your loved ones!

Weekend Roundup

  • Disaster responder Paul Allright led a team to Ashford Street, Brooklyn, on Saturday and assisted families affected by a fire in a six-story apartment building. The team provided housing assistance to one household. 
  • Patrick DeOssie led a disaster response team to Somers Street, Brooklyn, on Saturday to help families displaced by a fire in a three-story apartment building. Red Crossers provided housing assistance to six households (6 adults/1 child). Five of the six affected families received financial help as well.  
  • A fire broke out on Teller Avenue in the Bronx. Red Cross responders arrived at the scene and assisted five families of five adults and three children; three households (3 adults/3 children) received temporary housing; all received financial assistance.

Last Week in Review

  • On Thursday, Red Cross and Visiting Nurse Service of New York hosted a post-Sandy distress response workshop at the Brighton Beach Library in Brooklyn. Attendees listened to licensed clinicians as they discussed common reactions and symptoms experienced by people exposed to a single-disaster event such as Superstorm Sandy.
  • Also on Thursday, Red Crossers gathered at New York City headquarters, at the Greenwich, Conn., training room, the Hawthorne, New York, training room, and the Mineola, Long Island, board room to cheer on the advance of U.S. Men's National Soccer Team to the next round in FIFA World Cup.
  • Friday, Red Cross instructors appeared on FOX 5's Friday Good Day NY at 9:10 am, discussing water safety and CPR.

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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Sumaiyia Chowdhury: Volunteer in Training

Sumaiyia Chowdhury and John McPartland
by Alice Ding

Earlier this spring, Sumaiyia Chowdhury, a junior majoring in biology at St. John’s University in Queens, began training to become an American Red Cross disaster responder. Her introduction to disaster response was to “ride along” to a house fire.

A ride-along, or a trip into the field with a seasoned responder, is a great opportunity, especially for new volunteers like Chowdhury, to get a taste of the work of the Red Cross.

Volunteer History

Chowdhury started volunteering in high school with Key Club International, raising money for UNICEF. At St. John’s, her passion for giving back to the community strengthened when she became involved with Habitat for Humanity during her sophomore year, helping build new houses for those in need.

Chowdhury’s involvement with St. John’s Habitat for Humanity Club piqued her interest in joining the Red Cross and starting a Red Cross Club at St. John’s. “I want to make sure I make good use of my time,” Chowdhury said. “Ever since I started volunteering regularly, my life has changed so much that now, if I don’t volunteer, I feel weird.” 

Volunteering Today

Before heading into the field on her ride-along, Chowdhury’s Red Cross mentor, John McPartland, acquainted her with a responder’s basic responsibilities. For example, Chowdhury learned that responders make sure their Red Cross van is stocked with food, drinks, comfort kits and other basic necessities before leaving for a disaster scene. 

She learned from McPartland that the key is to be warm, welcoming and compassionate to those affected by disaster. 

When describing her experience in the field, Chowdhury had only positive comments. “I feel honored to contribute to the Red Cross. It’s interesting to meet different people and know how to react to different situations,” Chowdhury said.

Volunteering Tomorrow

Chowdhury added that although St. John’s has many community service clubs, none covers disaster relief, and a Red Cross club on campus would be unique. With a strong community service atmosphere on campus, Chowdhury believes the club can be a huge success.

Over this summer, Chowdhury will continue her Red Cross training. She says this will help her better prepare to start a Red Cross Club at St. John’s in the fall.

“What the Red Cross does is just amazing,” Chowdhury said. “They help so many people around the world. I’m excited to be more involved this summer and next fall.” 

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Tuesday, June 24, 2014

New York Times: Nonprofits & Case Managers Work Together Toward Progress After Sandy

In a recent New York Times article, Reporter Liz Robbins details how nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, are still working together to help people affected by Superstorm Sandy and the critical role disaster case managers are playing in advocacy and support for those individuals.

In the article, Robbins highlights the work of a Red Cross disaster case manager advocating on behalf of a woman in her 90s still recovering from Sandy many months after the storm. Red Cross case managers, like the one mentioned, are working hard every day to provide compassionate case management assistance to people whose homes were damaged by Sandy. That assistance includes working with residents to develop recovery plans that outline ongoing disaster-related needs (repair, health, emotional, and/or financial) and helping people navigate community-based services that can address these needs.

The Auer family’s experience illustrates the positive impact that case management can have on a family working to meet its recovery goals. On June 11, the Auers celebrated returning to their Staten Island home, which had been destroyed by Sandy. Chris Losavio, Red Cross disaster case manager, worked closely with the family, guiding them through rebuilding processes with nonprofit partners, helping them access financial assistance to meet needs for basic household items like furniture and appliances, and even organizing Red Cross volunteers to help install flooring, windows, and trim in the home so that the family could return.

“When I met Chris he said, ‘I’m not letting you go until we get things going.’ If it wasn’t for Chris, I would not be home because he got the ball rolling,” Laura Auer said.

Chris Losavio, Red Cross case manager, helped the Auer family of Staten Island navigate the many recovery resources necessary to get them back home after Sandy.

The Red Cross is one of many agencies that assists Sandy-affected residents with case management resources. In New York State, the primary provider of this support is the New York State Disaster Case Management Program. If you or a loved one is affected by Sandy and are in need of case management assistance, call the New York State Disaster Case Management referral line at 1-855-258-0483.

In addition to case management, thanks to generous donations from across the country, the American Red Cross is proud to have funded more than 80 community-based organizations that are rebuilding homes, communities and lives.

Josh Lockwood, CEO, American Red Cross Greater New York Region, speaks at a press conference on July 2, 2013, announcing nearly $3 million in Red Cross funding for the New York City Unmet Needs Roundtable.

To date, the Red Cross has provided nearly $88 million in grant funding to non-profit partners active in the recovery from Sandy throughout eight states. The Red Cross is the largest single funder of Unmet Needs Roundtables across New York State,providing nearly $3 million to the New York City Unmet Needs Roundtable, managed by New York Disaster Interfaith Services, and giving $1 million to the Health and Welfare Council on Long Island for the Long Island Unmet Needs Roundtable. The Red Cross also provided funding to other groups listed in Robbins’ article including: United Methodist Committee on Relief, The Salvation Army, Gerritsen Beach Long Term Recovery Project, the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, World Cares Center, Shorefront Y, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation.






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Monday, June 23, 2014

In Case You Missed It

Comfort Kit & Red Cross Blanket for our Yonkers Kids
(Picture: Caroline C. Sherwin)
Upcoming Events
  • Visiting Nurse Service of New York Disaster Distress Response Program: Workshop
    Licensed clinicians will be present to educate attendees on the common reactions and symptoms experienced by people who've been exposed to a single disaster event such as Superstorm Sandy. The workshop will take place at the Brighton Beach Public Library in Brooklyn on June 26 from 2-3 p.m. For more information, please contact Disaster Distress Response Program at (718)-888-6955.
Weekend Roundup

  • Our Metro New York North team assisted eight families (estimated 14 adults/16 children, a rabbit, a bird and a cat) on Saturday morning at the fire scene of a multi-family home in Yonkers. Volunteers met with four families at a temporary reception center, opened with the help of the Yonkers OEM. Click here for more details and pictures.
  • The Red Cross provided disaster responder training to our volunteers. Watch the video above to see what it takes to become a volunteer disaster responder.
  • Summer is here and it's time to go swimming! Read these water safety tips provided by the Red Cross to better prepare yourself and loved ones for a fun time at the pool and beach.
  • The Bayside High School Red Cross Club traveled to Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. at the beginning of June to participate in the International Humanitarian Law Youth Leadership Summit. Read the Queen's Chronicle article to find out more about the students' thoughts and experience on their trip to Washington, D.C.
  • The Red Cross Volunteer Medical Spotter Team lent their support to the NY Road Runners 10k marathon in Queens on Sunday. 
Team Red Cross at NYRR Queens 10K
(Picture: ARC Gold Pro Team)

Last Week in Review


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Monday, June 16, 2014

AECOM Sponsored Blood Drive at Grand Central Terminal

On June 12, the Red Cross hosted the third annual blood drive in Grand Central Vanderbilt Hall with support from our partner, AECOM. The blood drive started at 8 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. Here is some social media highlights from the event.












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In Case You Missed It


Nielsen volunteers helping prepare Red Hood resident to be Red Cross Ready
(Picture: Kanhong Lin)

Upcoming Events
  • June 21: Emergency Preparedness Day in Far Rockaway
    The event will take place in Arverne by the Bay Community Center, starting at 10 a.m. Participants will attend a "Be Red Cross Ready" training, learn about hurricane evacuation tips and take part in a hands-only CPR demonstration.

    For more information and to register, call (212)875-2189 or e-mail outreach.gny@redcross.org.
Weekend Roundup
  • Fire on Riverdale Ave
    A Red Cross team provided emotional and financial assistance to two families (six adults and four children) affected by the fire. A temporary reception center was set up where the Red Cross team could meet the families and provide further assistance. The electrical fire was caused by a fallen wire.
Last Week in Review


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CITI and Red Cross Team Up to Help Service Members

Photo: Syncere Zakee

See more photos 

CITI employees and their families came to American Red Cross Greater NY Headquarters earlier this month to help bring comfort and caring to U.S. military veterans. They did so by hand writing “Thank You for Serving” notes and assembling personal hygiene comfort kits into which the notes will be placed. The 2,200 kits created that afternoon will be distributed to veterans at the Bronx and Manhattan Veteran’s Administrations.

Josh Lockwood, CEO, Greater New York Region, addressed the group. “The Red Cross provides compassionate care throughout a service member’s career and beyond through our Service to the Armed Forces program,” he said. “This is to ensure that our heroes receive the assistance they need.” He added, “It’s wonderful to see you all here today helping to provide that assistance.”

Earlier in the week, CITI employees wrote cards and assembled 1,200 comfort kits at CITI offices at 388 Greenwich Street. 

All of the kits will be distributed to the Bronx and Manhattan Veteran’s Administrations, with the cards included in each kit.

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