January is busy for Red Cross Volunteers

As we ring in the New Year, “fire season” is well under way in the American Red Cross Greater New York region. As the cold weather kicks in our amazing Red Cross volunteers get busier and busier.

Here is a quick snap shot of our volunteers in action on January 14th when we responded to thirteen emergencies helping more than 70 people. This included a large house fire in Long Beach, Long Island and a fire in a 5 story building on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.

Our amazing volunteers stayed late into the night making sure these families had a warm place to stay, and the comfort and care they need to begin their road to recovery.

Stay warm everybody and if you see a Red Cross volunteer today please thank them for everything they do to help New Yorkers on these long cold January nights.

Days Before Christmas, Volunteers Offer Comfort in Freeport

By Amanda Rothenberg, American Red Cross Intern

What should have been an average day turned into heartache for Deyanissa Bonifacio, a young mother of two, when she watched her home burn through a cloud of smoke. It was only two days before Christmas when a devastating fire in Freeport, N.Y destroyed her home. Red Cross volunteer Bruce Vesloski and his team of responders rushed to the scene, covered Deyanissa with blankets and warm clothing and comforted her during her time of need. A week later, we sat down with Deyanissa to discuss her experience on that fateful day.

The Bonifacio home in Freeport after the fire

Can you walk us through what happened the day of the fire?

It was in the morning. I basically did what I do every day, just woke up. I went to take a shower. When I went in the shower I felt like it smelled a weird smell. I got out of the shower, I go into the room and the room was already on fire. I had to run outside in a towel. I was screaming for help and these two girls stopped and gave me some clothes that they had in their car. Then the Red Cross came.

How was the Red Cross able to help you?

They gave me some basics: underwear, socks, stuff like that, sweaters and jackets. Whatever they could help me with. They gave me a gift card. I stayed at the hotel they provided me for three days. They helped me out, made it a little bit easier, because Christmas was coming. And on top of that, the communication between me and Bruce, even though that already happened… I still communicate with him, I still call him.

How are your daughters?

My daughter goes to school right across the street from the house so she saw what happened; she just didn’t know it was our house. But with everything that happened, they’re not really, as you would say, there. I understand, it’s a lot, everything at once, in the blink of an eye.

What did it mean to you to know that there were people there to help you?

That was really nice. It makes you feel like there are other people who care out there, that they don’t have to be blood or anything. The Red Cross was really helpful; they help you from the heart. It’s not only at that time; maybe you need an answer, you can call them. They helped me. They help a lot of people… I just want to thank you guys for everything. It’s not like you’re by yourself in the world. There are people who care. There are people who can give you a hand when you most need it, when you fall down and you have to get up.

In Case You Missed It - Jan 11

Red Cross volunteers providing support to first responders and residents in
Mt. Vernon after a fire. (Photo: Caroline Sherwin)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 88 adults and 31 children following 58 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

Josh Lockwood, #RedCross CEO stopped by #Harlem #GetAlarmedNYC install day to thanks our great and dedicated volunteers! Join our team and come help us save lives. Visit www.redcross.org/getalarmednyc today!
Posted by American Red Cross in Greater New York on Saturday, January 9, 2016

• On Sunday, Metro New York North Red Crossers opened a reception center and provided comfort, emergency housing and financial aid to four families with children following a fire in Mount Vernon.
• Last Saturday, Red Cross staff and volunteers continued the #GetAlarmedNYC campaign to install free smoke alarms in the community. Volunteers fanned across Harlem and installed hundreds of smoke alarms to help make the neighborhood safer.
• On Friday, the Long Island Red Cross responded to 3-alarm fire in West Hempstead. Transportation, emergency housing and financial aid were provided to the 23 adults and 17 children that were assisted.
• Last Thursday, we blogged about Elsie Rodriguez and her elderly mother, who turned to us for help after an apartment fire in their Williamsburg (Brooklyn) home left them homeless.
• Continuing our #MyRedCrossLife Instagram series, dedicated volunteer Phil Cogan offered a bit of advice on how to maximize one’s volunteer experience.
• Last week, we also met with Assembly Member Ron Kim to discuss services to the district. The Assembly Member expressed his gratitude for the Red Cross response to several recent fires and for continuing to be ready when the need arises.
• In the middle of the week, Red Cross volunteer Stan Frank blogged about the progress made by our ‪#‎GetAlarmedNYC team so far and gives us a peak at what's in store for 2016.
• Earlier in the week, the Greater New York Red Cross web site published a story that reflected on the busy holiday season of disasters and what it means for our volunteers to sacrifice during this festive time to help others in need.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Win a Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit by taking the online emergency preparedness training. You’ll be automatically entered to win. This contest is open to residents of New York City, Long Island, Orange, Sullivan, Rockland, Putnam and Westchester Counties. Four winners will be chosen each month (notified via email).
• Jan 11, 13: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Jan 13, 19: Join the #GetAlarmedNYC campaign to help save lives by attending a Home Fire Safety Academy training on Jan 13 and 19. Red Cross Volunteers can sign up here and new comers will need to sign up here first.
• Jan 15: The town of Freeport and employees of National Grid will be partnering with the Red Cross to install free smoke alarms in the community.
• Jan 24: ABC 7’s Bill Ritter will be hosting the local news channel’s annual Operation 7 Save-a-Life campaign program at 7:30 pm. Tune in and check out the Red Cross participation in the special.

Finding Care and Love After Disaster

On November 30, Brooklyn resident Elsie Rodriguez was beginning her workday when she received a frantic call from her elderly mother. The apartment they lived in together was on fire. Rodriguez immediately rushed home.

When she arrived on scene, she found her mother visibly shaken but unharmed. The building’s residents had gathered at a school across the street where the Red Cross was offering assistance. Preferring to stay with family, Rodriguez and her mother declined their offer of emergency housing and stayed with her sister in Queens.

As for the state of their apartment, their home for the past 40 years, the damage was considerable.

“Nearly everything was destroyed.” Rodriguez recalled.

The next few days would be challenging. Trips to salvage belongings from the apartment and the stress over their uncertain living situation compounded their anxiety. That’s when they were reminded to follow up with the Red Cross.

On her mother’s 80th birthday, a week after the fire, they made the trip to the local Red Cross in Hell's Kitchen and met with their caseworker Lilliam Rivera-Cruz.

With tremendous compassion and reassurance, Lilliam gave them referrals to a local city agency for housing along with clear instructions on what to do next. She also provided them with a debit card to buy food, clothes and other personal items.

Another item they received was a teddy bear; this was meant as a special gesture for Rodriguez’s mother on her birthday. It was this gift that brought a smile to their faces for the first time since the fire.

Seeing her mother clutch the bear, Rodriguez remarked, “Lilliam, is like a family member. The way she conducts herself with caring and love; it really touches us. When she came to my mom, her heart just poured into us, and that’s what you need in a time like this.”

That small teddy bear meant more to the two women than Lilliam could have imagined; it served as a reminder that they were not alone.

Before leaving the Red Cross, Rodriguez spoke of the impact of loosing everything to a fire, “You feel hopeless you don’t know what to do. But today there’s hope.”

#GetAlarmedNYC: Looking Back and Moving Forward

By Stan Frank, American Red Cross Greater NY Region

Last year, the American Red Cross in Greater New York joined with the FDNY, Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Viverito and New York City Council Members to launch the #GetAlarmedNYC Campaign, the most ambitious smoke detector campaign in the country. The campaign has a goal of installing up to 100,000 smoke alarms across New York City. The reason is simple: Smoke Alarms Save Lives!

#GetAlarmedNYC, which will run for two years, targets communities with a history of fires or fire deaths in the five boroughs of New York.

Since the campaign launched in the second half of 2015, Red Cross volunteers have installed thousands of free smoke alarms in all five boroughs. The majority of these lifesaving devices were installed during large-scale community events in Bushwick, Brooklyn on October 24; in the Highbridge section of the Bronx on November 14; and in Jackson Heights, Queens on December 5. Red Cross volunteers are scheduled to visit Harlem on January 9 and West Brighton, Staten Island on February 6.

For this campaign, Kidde has donated the state-of-the-art combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms with built-in sealed batteries that will last for 10 years. Funds for the program are being provided by the City Council, the FDNY Foundation and Red Cross donors.

The key to success in this campaign is the hard work that the trained and dedicated Red Cross volunteers do. They are the ones installing the alarms in homes and apartments and providing important fire education training and educational materials to residents.

A Red Cross volunteer reviewing home fire
escape plans with a Queens family  

On a large-scale installation day, 20 or more teams of 2 or 3 Red Cross volunteers each fan out across a neighborhood. The teams first visit the residences that previously requested an installation. Appointments can be requested by calling 311, 877-RED CROSS or visiting our website, www.redcross.org/GetAlarmedNYC. When a Red Cross volunteer arrives at a home, he or she assesses fire risks in the house or apartment, tests existing alarms, replaces batteries if necessary and installs new Kidde alarms as needed. In a small apartment, one or two alarms are usually adequate; in larger homes, more alarms may be required. Once the installations are complete, the volunteers distribute fire safety materials and assist residents in completing home fire escape plans.

While some teams are completing installations, other teams canvas the neighborhood and follow up on leads provided by residents. Usually, once a resident sees how simple and effective installations are, word spreads quickly in the neighborhood and other neighbors and friends request installations. In addition, the Red Cross often works with local groups, churches, elected officials, community leaders, building superintendents and property owner associations to generate leads.

The importance of alarm installations cannot be overstated. In 2014, 68 people died in fires across the five boroughs of New York. Many more were severely injured. The FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Investigations has determined that “up to 70 percent of fire deaths in recent years have occurred in residences where there was no working smoke alarm…either with no alarm present, or missing or dead batteries in a device.”

In short, every fire alarm installed is a potential life saving device!

Help us save lives by volunteering for the #GetAlarmedNYC campaign in your community.

Upcoming events:

• Harlem (Manhattan): Saturday, January 9, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• West Brighton (Staten Island): Saturday, February 6, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Bed-Sty (Brooklyn): Saturday, March 5, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Port Richmond (Staten Island): Saturday, March 19, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• St. Albans (Queens): Saturday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Melrose (Bronx): Saturday, April 30, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Washington Heights (Manhattan): Saturday, May 14, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Remember, residents can also sign up to have a smoke alarm installed at any time by calling 1-877-REDCROSS (Option *) or by visiting www.redcross.org/#GetAlarmedNYC

In Case You Missed It - Jan 4

Red Cross staff and volunteers in Times Square before New Year's celebration providing support to thousands of police, fire and emergency responders with coffee, hot chocolate, tea, snacks and smiles. (Photo: Vivian Moy)

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 101 adults and 37 children following 39 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Sunday, the Red Cross assisted one family with emergency housing and funds after a deadly fire in the Bronx.
• Also on Saturday, the Red Cross volunteers helped eight families in Newburgh, N.Y. after a fire destroyed their homes.
• Last Thursday, we closed out the year by sharing our photos of the year collection in two parts: January to June and July to December.
• Need help coming up with some worthwhile New Year’s resolutions? Our volunteer Rachel Coleman has you covered with this blog post on becoming a superhero.
• We also recently published a Q&A on our blog with Jackson Heights residents Sangeeta Roy and Alexander Gonzales, who recently had free smoke alarms installed in their homes by the Red Cross.
• The staff and volunteers of the Greater New York Red Cross wished everyone a “happy holidays” (to the song of the year, “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars).
• Right before Christmas, we shared the latest photo and story of our #MyRedCrossLife Instagram series on dedicated volunteer Patty Jones.
• We also took a look back on a very busy year here at the Greater New York Red Cross. Thanks to all who have allowed us to help so many in 2015!
• Continuing on our look back at the year that was, in late December we shared our most viewed blog posts of 2015.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Win a Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit by taking the online emergency preparedness training. You’ll be automatically entered to win. This contest is open to residents of New York City, Long Island, Orange, Sullivan, Rockland, Putnam and Westchester Counties. Four winners will be chosen each month (notified via email).
• Jan 4, 6, 8, 9: Red Cross blood drives; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Jan 5: The #GetAlarmedNYC program is holding its Home Fire Safety Academy Technician Training.
• Jan. 9: #GetAlarmedNYC comes to Harlem to install free smoke alarms in the community. Schedule an installation appointment here. The campaign also needs volunteers to support this event. Sign up for a Home Fire Campaign shift today (link for Red Cross Volunteers).

2016 New Year’s Resolution: Become a Superhero

By Rachel Coleman

Many of us make at least one resolution at the start of a new year.  From living a healthier lifestyle to (finally) finishing that special project, they can take any form.  This year, why not become a superhero instead?

No, you don’t need to don a mask or cape, but you can join a league of fellow like-minded citizens—the American Red Cross.

Just as superheroes have different powers, there are many different ways to make a positive and long-lasting impact on the people around you through the Red Cross:

Volunteer

American Red Cross volunteers make a difference in a multitude of ways every day, 365 days a year. From ensuring the delivery of an emergency message between a military service member and their families, to providing hope and comfort to families after a local disaster, to collecting life-saving blood and reunifying families after an international conflict, trained and dedicated Red Cross volunteers are there to help.

Regardless of your skills, background or physical abilities, there is a way for you to make a difference with the Red Cross. Visit www.redcross.org/gnyvolunteer to sign up and learn more today.

Give Blood

According to statistics maintained by the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, but less than ten percent of those eligible to donate actually do so each year.

Every time you donate blood, you can help save up to three lives.  You can safely donate blood every 56 days, so if you mark your calendar now, you could save nearly 20 lives in 2016—without once putting on a pair of tights! 

In Orange County, a blood drive is set for January 6, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orange Regional Medical Center at 707 E. Main Street in Middletown.

To find more blood drives in your area or to host one of your own, visit: www.redcross.org/blood.

Get Prepared

You can keep it even closer to home by resolving to get prepared this year.  Every family needs a plan for when disaster strikes.  If you weathered the last couple of hurricanes that barreled through the area, you understand how having a few key items like a flashlight, food, water and medications can make an enormous difference.

In partnership with New York State, the Red Cross is providing a FREE 15 minute online Citizen Preparedness Corps training on how to prepare, respond and recover from both natural and man-made disasters.

Visit www.prepare.ny.gov/online-citizen-preparedness-training, and gain the tools necessary to safeguard your own family this year.

With so much happening in the world today, perhaps what we all need are a few everyday heroes.  With the help of the American Red Cross, this year could be the year you save the world – or at least help your fellow neighbors.

Rachel is a new super hero, joining the Red Cross as a volunteer in November.