June 2008 Archives

The opinion piece below was published in the Courier News on Sunday, June 29 2008 and was written by Tri-County Red Cross CEO Nathan Rudy.

Red Cross volunteers lend support across U.S.

Right now the news is full of photos, stories and reports about the Midwestern floods. Just a few weeks into the hurricane season, the nation is already facing its worst disaster since the California wildfires of last fall.

The American Red Cross has responded to this disaster by establishing more than 74 shelters for 70,000 overnight stays. Red Cross volunteers and staff throughout the country have flown in to states from Kansas to West Virginia to provide 260,000 meals, distributed tens of thousands of clean-up kits, and assisted countless family members in locating loved ones displaced by the floods.

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Using this form will donate directly to the relief of the Central US Flood Victims.

Please click here for a PDF update of the American Red Cross Response

Here is a video of new American Red Cross President Gail McGovern's welcome message to staff, employees, donors and other supporters of the Red Cross mission.

The Midwestern United States has been hard hit lately by flooding, and the American Red Cross is working hard to help families who have been affected.  Red Cross volunteers have filled sandbags to hold back the floods, manned shelters for people displaced from their homes, delivered food to areas without power, and been there for those who need it.

You can be there, too, by contributing to the American Red Cross through this button.  Every contribution made through this button will go to relief efforts for the recent storms in Iowa and Indiana.  If you want to give to these floods, please use the button below and not others on the site, as others will donate to the local chapter.

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Gavin Zachman, kneeling over water with flooded car in background

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Floodwaters reached the rooftops in parts of Iowa.

Makayla Menkedick,18 months, plays at a Red Cross shelter in flooded Columbus, Indiana.

Red Cross volunteers travel through Columbus, Indiana, hit hard by flooding, and  deliver hot meals and drinks to residents cleaning up their  homes.

RC volunteer Marion Harcourt giving hugs in Martinsville, IN.

In Iowa, volunteers stuffed sandbags to help prevent flooding.

 

Strawberry Gallagher, President of the Elizabeth High School Key Club, presents a $500 check to Nathan Rudy, Tri-County Red Cross CEO at the Red Cross offices.

Just after midnight Tuesday morning a fire ripped through an Elizabeth home on Magnolia Avenue, sending the Jones and Bowser families running for their lives.  Paulette Jones and her family of nine watched on in horror as all their possessions went up in flames.  She looked over to her neighbor Angela Bowser and her family, who also stood watching their home burn to the ground.  Neither family knew what to do or what was going to happen next. 

Fortunately Tri-County Red Cross volunteers were there to provide relief.  Both families -- including eight children -- were placed in hotels and were provided financial support to purchase new clothing and food as they recover from loosing everything with this fire.

Please help replenish the Disaster Fund to ensure we can help more disaster victims like the Jones and Bowser families

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"The Jones and Bowser families can focus on recovering from the devastating fire instead of worrying about a roof over their heads, food on the table or clothes on their backs," said Tri-County Red Cross CEO, Nathan Rudy.  "Our dedicated disaster volunteers, with the support of our donors, means no victim of local disasters will be refused aid when they need it.  The Tri-County Red Cross is here to help."

Support for disaster victim relief is provided by the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund.  Financial contributions from local citizens wishing to make a difference, supply the fund.  Help ensure our fund is available for future disasters by donating online at www.tricountyredcross.org/donate.html, or by calling (908) 756-6414. 

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, celebrating its 91st anniversary in 2008, has headquarters in Plainfield and Elizabeth, NJ. The Chapter provides health and safety, disaster response and military communications programs and services to more than half a million residents of 22 towns in Union, Somerset and Middlesex Counties.

Union: Clark, Cranford, Elizabeth, Fanwood, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden, Plainfield, Rahway, Roselle, Roselle Park, Scotch Plains, Union, Winfield Middlesex: Dunellen, Edison (NW), South Plainfield Somerset: Green Brook, North Plainfield, Warren, Watchung

The Tri-County Red Cross Be Red Cross Ready program is dedicated to helping all interested people, organizations and businesses prepare for disasters and make their communities safer.

While most Americans think they should get prepared for disasters and other emergencies, a recent poll notes that only seven percent has taken the necessary actions.

Be Red Cross Ready combines basic disaster education with key health and safety information and skills demonstrations and consists of an online education module, community presentations, a line of preparedness products and a clear call to action.

This campaign offers easy-to-use tools anchored in one clear, simple message for the public to get better prepared in three simple actions:

1) Get a kit;
2) Make a plan; and
3) Be informed.

Tri-County Red Cross volunteers will come to your church, school, business, social club or other public location to present Be Red Cross Ready to groups of 10 or more at no cost.

Be Red Cross Ready is a cooperative effort of the American Red Cross and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) to encourage Americans to be more prepared for a disaster or other emergency.

To schedule a Be Red Cross Ready presentation, contact our Sr. Director of Services, Santiago Soto at 908-353-2500 or email sotos@usa.redcross.org. More information is available at www.tricountyredcross.org/ready/ .

Shally Madhok of Edison was on a mission when she volunteered at the Tri-County Red Cross Plainfield Office: to complete 100 hours of voluntary service in three weeks time.  

Shally was confident that she could learn and manage any project given to her including both databases and their intricate programs; research and development of a comprehensive community event calendar; and most recently she updated the design and information for our chapter volunteer brochure.

"Shally has impressed me with her tenacity on each project she is given," said Corinna Krauskopf, Development and Marketing Officer.  "She has mastered programs and managed projects at a level normally found with volunteers who have been with us for years, not weeks."

Unfortunately Shally's time with us is limited to four weeks because she is due to return to India to complete her education.  But in her time here, the work she has accomplished will leave lasting effects through the chapter and its team.  We are all sorry to see her go and she has promised to return to us when her education is done in India.

Shally Madhok is truly a great example of what a dedicated volunteer can do with the Tri-County Red Cross regardless of background, experience or age.  She is well on her way to reaching her goal of 100 hours with the Tri-County Red Cross.

Did we mention she is only 14?

If you would like to volunteer with the Tri-County Red Cross, please contact Youth and Volunteer Services Director Victor Webb at 908-756-6414 or webbv@usa.redcross.org.

Tri-County Red Cross and Kean University

Present:
          Adult CPR/AED Rally

Don't miss this special opportunity to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to recognize and care for life-threatening repiratory and cardiac emergencies in adults

 

Date:          Saturday June 7th, 2008

Time:         9:00am - 2:00pm (8:30-9:00 registration)

Location:   Kean University

                  Di'Angola Instructional Gym

                  1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ

Cost:         FREE for the 1st 50 people to sign up

                 Regular price: $20.00

**Pre-registration is required by June 6, 2008

 

REGISTER HERE!

or Call (908) 353-2500 x15 to register by phone

Rally sponsored by: