In Case You Missed It - Mar 23

The day after the fatal fire, a team of American Red Cross workers walked through Midwood, Brooklyn,
dispensing fire-safety tips. (Photo: Andrew Renneisen for The New York Times)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 119 adults and 50 children following 60 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday, after the tragic fire in Brooklyn, the Red Cross in collaboration with FDNY canvassed the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn to inspect and install free smoke alarms and to educate the community on the importance of home fire safety.
• This past Saturday, we celebrated our New York City volunteers at our annual recognition event at Battery Gardens in Lower Manhattan. Congrats to all our awardees and thank you to all who give of themselves in support of our mission. Two guests of honor were Chassity and Edyberto, who recently lost their apartment in Queens to fire, but came to the event to thank Red Cross volunteers.
• On Thursday, our superstar CPR/AED instructor, Lipica Shah, made an appearance on Dr. Oz to discuss and demonstrate the importance of AED training.
• Wednesday night, a massive 4-alarm fire that damaged a row of eight homes in Woodhaven (Queens) sent residents fleeing from their homes. Thankfully, the Red Cross was able to assist those residents with financial assistance and emergency housing.
• Also on Wednesday, GNY Red Cross Communications Officer, Michael De Vulpillieres, was interviewed on BronxNet about Red Cross services and activities.
• On Monday, there was another 4-alarm fire that tore through a row of houses, but this time in the Staten Island town of Rossville. Emergency housing, financial assistance and emotional support was provided to those left out in the cold by the devastating blaze.
• Earlier that Monday, Red Cross volunteers Nancy and Rick Stein taught emergency preparedness and fire safety to the Westchester County Alumni of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Post by American Red Cross in Greater New York.

Upcoming Events

• Mar. 25: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Mar. 25: Red Cross will host 60 members of Veteran’s Mental Health Coalition of NYC for an educational lecture on topics addressing veterans and employment.
• Mar. 26: Red Cross will be training employees of Swiss Re on how to volunteer and support Disaster Services. Swiss Re is a partner in our Ready When the Time Comes corporate community program.
• Mar. 28: Service to the Armed Forces volunteers will attend a Vietnam Veteran’s commemoration event and provide information on Red Cross services.

Greater NY Red Cross Volunteer Supports Ebola Response in West Africa

Long-time Greater NY Red Cross volunteer and *IFRC Advisor at the United Nations, Christophe Lobry-Boulanger, has spent the last few months serving as Deputy Head of Regional Ebola Operations for the IFRC. Based in Accra, the role oversees IFRC Ebola Operations for West Africa. He recently spoke with Radio France Internationale's English news service to discuss his work and experiences on the ground. Click below to listen to the interview.

Learn more about the Red Cross/Red Crescent network's response to the Ebola outbreak.
Learn more about Red Cross delegations at the UN.

*IFRC refers to the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies.

In Case You Missed It - Mar 16

Red Crossers rang the closing bell of Nasdaq to raise awareness for home fire safety.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 118 adults and 43 children following 56 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday, Red Cross First Aid/Medical Spotters provided support and assistance to the 2015 United Airlines New York City Half Marathon.
• Continuing our month long celebration of volunteers during Red Cross Month, Long Island Red Cross volunteers were celebrated on Saturday. Congrats to our honorees and thank you to all those who support our mission. Also special thanks to volunteer photographer Donna Langdon for providing a wonderful gallery of photos from the event.
• Capping off a busy weekend, Red Cross volunteers taught emergency preparedness to a packed house of the Westchester County Alumni of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority at Mt. Hope AME Zion Church in Harrison.
• Last Friday, 45+ Red Cross volunteers were out in force canvassing homes in East Harlem and Washington Heights to install 150+ smoke alarms to residents who do not have them. This amazing effort is part of our ongoing #GiveWhatFireTakes campaign that highlights the dangers of home fires.
• Thursday also marked the one year anniversary of the tragic East Harlem Explosion that rocked the city. As we took a moment to reflect on the events of that day during a memorial event held in the morning, our hearts and prayers go out to those who suffered such terrible loss.
• On Wednesday, the Red Cross responded to a mudslide in Yonkers, forced the evacuation of a large apartment building housing a significant senior population. A relief center was opened to provide safe haven, warm meals and emotional support to displaced residents.
• Also on Wednesday, the Red Cross had the honor of ringing the closing bell of Nasdaq to help raise awareness to the importance of fire safety and how you can help by donating to the cause.
• Earlier in the week, a four-alarm fire in Brooklyn left several families on National Drive without homes. The Red Cross was able to provide those families with emergency housing and financial aid for food and clothing.
• While this didn’t happen last week (this took place two Fridays before), we still wanted to spotlight the wonderful work of Long Island Red Cross volunteers who participated in a deployment briefing for 250 Air National Guard service members and their family members at the Gabreski Air National Guard Base. The volunteers provided the service members with information about Red Cross services for Armed Forces.

Upcoming Events

• March 17, 19 & 21: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Mar. 21: New York City Red Cross volunteers will be recognized at the Battery Gardens in Manhattan from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Stephen Wolfe.

In Case You Missed It - Mar 9

Red Cross Volunteers teamed-up with Batman this weekend to
help teach fire safety to attendees of the Big Apple Con.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 68 adults and 36 children following 42 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of some upcoming events (see below).

Last Week in Review

• Over the weekend, the Metro New York North Red Cross chapter gathered to celebrate local volunteers. Thank you to all who came out to support the event and thank you to all who volunteer their time to make our mission possible in this region and beyond! View our Flickr gallery of the event here courtesy of volunteer photographer extraordinaire Matt LaMonica.
• Also over the weekend, Red Cross volunteers were out in force at the Big Apple Con and at the Staten Island Mall to promote and recruit for our Home Fire Safety Campaign.
• Last Friday, Metro New York North CEO, Mary Young, met with Assemblyman Gary Pretlow and Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins to discuss preparedness as part of March is Red Cross Month.
• Also on Friday, we kicked-off our Measles & Rubella campaign in Greater NY, spearheaded by our Red Cross Club Youth volunteers. Special thanks to Jennifer Kerner, our guest speaker.
• Wednesday night, as a fire blazed in Peekskill, our volunteers were on the scene to help four families with emergency financial assistance, temporary lodging, food and clothing. Thanks to Assumption Church, we opened up a reception center for all impacted residents.
• Earlier that Wednesday, local Red Cross leadership met with members of several emergency response organizations from the Jewish community in Williamsburg. The meeting was held to build a stronger partnership that would better assist the community when local emergencies and large scale disasters occur.
• On Monday, we posted a special thank you to Rallye Motors for donating a Sprinter Van for our Blood Services division.
• The first week of March marked the beginning of Red Cross Month! As proclaimed by President Barack Obama, Red Cross Month is a time where “we renew our sense of common purpose and honor all those whose sacrifices have made our society more prepared, resilient, and united.”

Post by American Red Cross in Greater New York.

Upcoming Events

• Mar. 9 & 11: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Mar. 10: The Brooklyn Nets will host an American Red Cross Awareness Night (versus the New Orleans Pelicans). For every discounted ticket sold, the Brooklyn Nets will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Red Cross. If 200 tickets are sold, the Red Cross will be honored with special halftime recognition.
• Mar. 12: This Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the E. Harlem building explosion that took eight lives and left hundreds homeless. To mark the occasion, Red Cross leadership, alongside community and government partners, will attend a vigil for the impacted community. Click here for a snapshot of the Red Cross response.
• Mar. 13: As part of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, volunteers will be out in Manhattan installing free smoke detectors and talking to residents about fire safety. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact Uikki O'Bryant.
• Mar. 14: Long Island Red Cross volunteers will be recognized at the Coral House in Baldwin, N.Y. from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm. If you have any questions about the event, please contact Deborah Gibbons.
• Nov. 1: Looking to run the 2015 NYC Marathon? Did you know you could run with the Red Cross AND support our mission? Now is the time to join Team Red Cross!

In Case You Missed It - March 2, 2015

Via @kanhonglin, #TeamStatenIsland after a day of installing free smoke detectors in Rosebank. #firesafety pic.twitter.com/6XpwSi1Mut
— NY Red Cross (@redcrossny) March 1, 2015

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 198 adults and 93 children following 67 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of some upcoming events.

Last Week in Review

• Did you know that yesterday marked the beginning of Red Cross Month? Lots of great events scheduled across our region over these next few weeks. Stay tuned!
• This past weekend, our Home Fire Preparedness Campaign kicked into high gear here in greater NY with nearly 150 free smoke detectors installed in the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Beach, N.Y. Big thank you to all who came out to help save lives!
• At our fire safety event in the Bronx, Red Cross volunteers lend a hand to an unlikely group of NYers. Here’s a hint: film at 11.
• On Friday, we shared the story of Carmen Allende, a woman who turned to the Red Cross late last year after a fire destroyed her Bronx home.
• Late last week,Catherine Lin along with her high school Red Cross club, donated 28 backpacks full of school supplies to the Red Cross. These bags will be donated to fellow students who recently lost all their processions in a home fire or other local disaster. Learn more about how you can form your own Red Cross Club at your high school or college by clicking here.  
• On Thursday, Metro NY North Red Cross teams provided emergency assistance to 11 residents following a fire in Mount Vernon.
• On Wednesday, Red Cross supporters and staff on Long Island gathered to say thank you to Joe Stanco and Nick Toomey of Rallye Motors for personally donating a Sprinter Van to the Red Cross.
• Early in the week, we shared the story of Rick and Nancy Stein, Red Cross volunteers from Westchester who’ve been getting lots of NYers prepared for the unexpected.

Upcoming Events 

• All month: Red Cross Month!
• March 4 & 6: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49^th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
• March 4: Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces team hosting lecture with The Veterans' Mental Health Coalition, 1pm to 4pm; 520 West 49^th Street, Manhattan. Learn more.
• March 6: Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces volunteers will provide information and support to service members returning from deployment and their family members in Westhampton Beach (Long Island). Learn more about our SAF program.
• March 7: Red Cross blood drive; 10am to 3pm; 520 West 49^th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
• March 7: Metro New York North Red Cross Volunteer Recognition Event, 10:30am to 12:30pm; Comfort Inn and Suites; Nanuet, N.Y. Learn more.
• Mar. 10: The Brooklyn Nets will host an American Red Cross Awareness Night (versus the New Orleans Pelicans). For every discounted ticket sold, the Brooklyn Nets will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Red Cross. If 200 tickets are sold, the Red Cross will be honored with a special halftime recognition. 

In Case You Missed It - Feb 23

Long Island Red Cross Mental Health Volunteer Larry Kasten comforts
Hempstead resident at shelter after 5-alarm fire. (Photo: Lisa Weatherbee)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 203 adults and 88 children following 91 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of some upcoming events.

Last Week in Review 

• Over the weekend, the Red Cross teamed up with the US Merchant Marine Academy to train 200 freshman midshipmen to provide support at Red Cross shelters in our region.
• On Saturday, Long Island Red Cross volunteers supported Hempstead residents returning home for the first time since Thursday's massive fire by distributing fire clean-up kits.
• After handing out those clean-up supplies and heading back to our Mineola HQ, volunteer Bruce Vesloski witnessed a car get T-boned by another vehicle. Bruce proceeded to provide comfort to the woman trapped in her vehicle while firefighters and emergency responders worked to free her. Way to go Bruce!
• That massive 5-Alarm fire in Hempstead, N.Y. occurred on Thursday afternoon and it tore through an apartment building and forced hundreds to evacuate their homes in the bitter cold. Red Cross teams assisted affected residents by setting up a relief center at Hempstead High School where safe shelter, food, health assistance and emotional support were provided. Dozens of residents stayed overnight over the course of two nights.
• Wednesday night, volunteers from the Metro New York North Red Cross were at the scene of a building fire in downtown Yonkers. Working in close partnership with Yonkers city agencies, the Red Cross provided support to first responders and temporary housing and emergency financial assistance to four families.
• Earlier in the week, to help kickoff the annual Westminster Dog Show, we shared a few tips to help your pets stay safe and warm this winter, along with photos of some really cute dogs.

Post by American Red Cross in Greater New York.

Upcoming Events

• Feb. 25 & 27: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
• Feb. 25: Thank you event for LI Red Cross partner Rallye Motors.
• Feb. 28: Disaster mental-health volunteers from across the region will gather at our regional HQ in Manhattan for a seminar on mass casualty incidents.
• Feb. 28 – Mar. 1: As part of the Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, volunteers will be out in the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Beach, N.Y. installing free smoke detectors and talking to residents about fire safety.
• Mar. 1: Beginning of Red Cross Month!
• Mar. 10: The Brooklyn Nets will host an American Red Cross Awareness Night (versus the New Orleans Pelicans). For every discounted ticket sold at this web site, the Brooklyn Nets will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Red Cross. If 200 tickets are sold, the Red Cross will be honored with a special halftime recognition.

In Case You Missed It- February 16

Red Cross staff members alongside representatives from the American Kennel Club, AKC Reunite and NYC OEM. 

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 146 adults and 46 children following 62 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of some upcoming events.

Last Week In Review 

One of the many gifts placed in "Comfort Kits" assembled by Primrose Elementary School kids in honor of Stephanie Crispanelli. 

• Over the weekend, AKC (American Kennel Club) Reunite announced their donation ofa pet relief supply trailer to the American Red Cross and NYC OEM. The gift will allow us to provide additionalpeace of mind to displaced pet owners affected by disasters.
• The Red Cross and Primrose Elementary School in Somers, N.Y. teamed up last Friday to honor the life and legacy of Stephanie Crispinelli by making special comfort kits for children affectedby local disasters. Crispinelli, a passionatehumanitarian, lost her life during the Haiti Earthquake in 2010.
• On the same day, our Community Relations team met with Staten Island Assembly Member NicoleMalliotakis to discuss Red Cross services in her district.
• Early Friday morning, the Red Cross provided 6 Brooklyn families withtemporary lodging and emergency financial assistance after a fire on Nichols Ave. left them homeless.
• On Wednesday more than 60 members of the Veterans Mental Health Coalition of NYC, along with Red Cross Service tothe Armed Forces staff, gathered at our headquarters for a lecture on the issues facing women veterans. Among those in attendance were retiredU.S. Army Brigadier General and current NYC Commissioner of Veterans’ Affairs,Loree Sutton
• On Tuesday, the Red Cross provided temporary housing and emergency care to severalresidents following a fire on Prospect Park West in Brooklyn.
• To help residents prepare for a brutal wave of arctic cold, we shared someimportant resources (and tips) throughout the week to help keep New Yorkers and their families safe. 

Upcoming Events

• Feb. 16, 19 and 21: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Click here to register.
• Feb. 21: Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers will provide information and support to service members returning from deployment and their family members at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, N.Y. Learn moreabout our SAF program.
• Feb. 21: The Long Island Red Cross will train students at the Merchant Marine Academy in  Great Neck, N.Y. to assist displaced residents at Red Cross shelters following local disasters. Learn more about the Long island RedCross.
• Mar. 10: The Brooklyn Nets will be hosting an American Red Cross Awareness Night. Forevery discounted ticket sold here versus the New Orleans Pelicans, the Brooklyn Nets will a portion pf the proceeds to the Red Cross. If 200 tickets are sold, the Red Cross will honored with a special halftime recognition.