Images of 2014

In Case You Missed It - Dec 22, 2014

Red Cross responds to a 5-Alarm fire in Ozone Park (Queens).

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 184 adults and 56 children following 55 local disasters. Here are some highlights of responses and activities from the last week.

Last Week in Review

• On December 18, a 5-Alarm fire tore through an apartment building in Ozone Park (Queens). Working with city agencies, the Red Cross setup a relief center at P.S. 65 and provided financial and emotional support to two dozen families displaced. Of those families, 11 were provided emergency housing.
• Last Friday, Red Cross Club Youth volunteers held their annual fundraising movie night. They screened the Holiday classic, Santa Clause, and raised money to benefit the Red Cross.
• The Long Island chapter of the Red Cross welcomed a new board member, Butch Yamali. 
• The staff and volunteers of the Greater NY Red Cross would like to wish you "Happy Holidays!" (to the tune of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off).  

In Case You Missed It - Dec 15

Residents of North Amityville motel provided with Red Cross blankets and services after they evacuated from a fire.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 119 adults and 34 children following 61 local disasters.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

• Following a fatal fire at a motel in North Amityville (Suffolk County) last Saturday, the Red Cross was able to provide residents with food, financial assistance, emergency shelter and emotional support.
• Saturday, Astoria (Queens) residents awoke to flooded basements after a water mainbreak. Red Cross volunteers spent the day on scene providing emergency assistance to displaced families and distributing more than 40 flood clean-up kits.
• Early Friday morning, a 4-Alarm fire broke out in a East New York (Brooklyn) apartment building. Residents left homeless by the blaze turned to the Red Cross for emergency assistance.
• Through out the week, Red Cross Disaster Logistics teams continued to transfer supplies to newly purchased trailers that are pre-positioned in the event of large-scale disasters like Superstorm Sandy.
• Metro New York North Red Cross responded to a rash of fires, providing emergency assistance to families in Middletown, New City, Salisbury Mills and Haverstraw.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Tonight, the Red Cross will partner with the NY Islanders in support of our mission. You can still purchase discounted tickets to the final Red Cross Charity Night at Nassau Coliseum. Blood Drive on December 20th from 9am to 3pm at the Nassau Coliseum where all presenting donors will receive a voucher for two tickets to an Islanders home game during the 2014-15 regular season and a chance to win autographed Islanders memorabilia and more! Walk-ins are welcome, or to schedule an appointment to donate call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org. Reference sponsor code ISLANDERS.
• This Friday, Youth Services/Red Cross Clubs will be holding their annual fundraising movie night. This year’s screening will be the holiday classic “The Santa Clause” starring Tim Allen. Showtime starts at 5pm at the GNY Chapter 520 W 49th Street. Popcorn and drinks will be sold. RSVP via email at Amanda.crabbe@redcross.org.

In Case You Missed It - Dec. 8

Three young NY girls pose for a photo at our annual Winter Wonderland holiday event. 

Last week, the New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 91 adults and 28 children from across the Greater NY Region following 43 disasters.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• On Monday, December 15, the NY Islanders will be playing to benefit the Red Cross. Find discounted tickets at: www.newyorkislanders.com/redcrosstickets

WEEK IN REVIEW 

• Winter Wonderland, our annual event for children affected by local disasters disasters, took place last Saturday in Times Square’s Hard Rock Café!
• Last weekend, Greenwich Hospital and Jefferson Valley Mall hosted Holiday Mail for Heroes card-writing events.
• On Friday, during our Staff meeting, the Greater NY Red Cross Client Services Team was recognized for their tireless efforts providing services to residents affected by disasters every day.
• Young volunteers from Red Cross Youth Clubs learned about disaster preparedness during their Zombie Apocalypse party held on Dec. 5. 
• Early last week, we shared the video of Carmen Allende, who in late November turned to the Red Cross after a fire destroyed her Bronx home. 
• Right after #GivingTuesday, we said THANK YOU to all those donors and volunteers who constantly support our cause.
• During #GivingTuesday, the Red Cross and Bitly partnered to launch Hopely, a new tool to promote Red Cross services and encourage online donations.

The Jefferson Valley Mall Holiday Mail for Heroes card-writing event. 

In Case You Missed It- Dec. 2

During the past week, the American Red Cross at Greater NY responded to 52 disasters and emergencies, helped 104 adults, 41 children, and distributed 14 Comfort Kits.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• On Dec. 2 for #GivingTuesday, we encourage you to donate to our cause and give something that means something.

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

• On Dec. 1, the volunteers in our logistics team shared pictures of the trucks used for their fleet activities.
• For Black Friday on Nov. 28, we encouraged our supporters to check our Holiday Gift Catalog. 
• Our volunteers, always eager to help, responded to a fire at a Senior Apartment Complex on Thanksgiving eve, Nov. 27, at Peekskill, New York, which displaced four individuals. 
• Thanksgiving was the occasion to thank all of you who make our mission possible. 
• Right before Thanksgiving, we shared some tips for safe traveling. 
• Have you ever thought of the comfort that a single blanket brings to a person? Early last week, one of our volunteers, Ronnie G. Rigos, appeared on a Red Cross blanket PSA.
• The Red Cross was on scene to help during a 3-alarm fire in Harlem on Nov. 25.
• Early last week, on Nov. 24, DART Team members transport supplies to Buffalo due to the snowstorm.

In Case You Missed It - Nov. 24

Long-time mass care volunteer Jessica Powers was the first of three Red Crossers from our region to deploy to the Buffalo area following last week's record-breaking snowfall.

During the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross has responded to 46 emergencies and provided aid to 102 adults and 40 children. Here are some highlights from the last week:

LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

• On Saturday, November 22, dozens turned to the Red Cross following 4-alarm fire that tore through several row houses in Brooklyn. Thanks to all who supported the response!
• Late Friday, three of our Greater New York volunteers were deployed to Buffalo to respond to the record-breaking winter storms. You can wish them well on our Facebook page.
• Late last week, we shared the story of a Brooklyn mom who will become a Red Cross volunteer after surviving a home fire.
• Red Cross Staff and Volunteers continued to transfer emergency supplies to newly purchased trailers and assess their their ability to off load these supplies during an large-scale emergency response operation.
• Recently, Rick Stein, our Red Cross Ambassador for the Governor's Preparedness Initiative took his show on the road to Iona College and our Westchester Girl Scout Troop 2897, based in Ardsley. Thanks Fred Stein and his wife Nancy Stein, they helped to bring our ABC's of Preparedness to life and a great time was had by all!
• Also out in Metro New York, on November 19, Port Chester Police have requested Red Cross assistance following a fire that has displaced four adults and three children. Our MNYN Volunteers setup a temporary reception center for families and provided emergency assistance.
• Mid week, the National Red Cross published a study that shows the impact that you can make this holiday season through social media. 
• We also shared the Red Cross story of Lauren Lebowitz, who sang last month at our annual Red Tie Affair Gala. The Red Cross was able to help her family learn more about what to missing family members during the Holocaust.

Red Cross Joins Sandy Recovery Partners in Queens Canvassing Outreach

Queens Coalition volunteers prepare to canvass the 
Hamilton Beach community following a briefing at 
the headquarters of the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer 
Fire & Ambulance Corps.

Last weekend, the Queens Recovery Coalition--a group of local organizations, community leaders and recovery workers volunteering to support communities after Superstorm Sandy--canvassed homes in Hamilton Beach, Queens. Throughout the two-day period, individuals representing several Sandy recovery organizations went door-to-door to inform residents about Sandy recovery assistance still available more than two years after the storm. The American Red Cross has been part of the Coalition since its inception and had volunteers take part in the canvassing.

As a result of these efforts, more than 400 homes were visited during the two-day outreach and more than 250 new families registered with a disaster case manager. The canvassing also enabled the Coalition to collect data on recovery efforts to date and to identify existing unmet needs. 

Recovery partners also involved in the Queens Recovery Coalition and the recent canvassing include, Catholic Charities, United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Salvation Army, CAMBA, After Hours Project, Mental Health Association of New York, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica. The outreach was also promoted to the community through the offices of  local elected officials, the New Hamilton Beach Civic Association (and its president Roger Gendron), and Queens Community Board #10. On-site support was provided to the volunteers by the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire & Ambulance Corps.