Volunteers

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Support the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Fund.

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Here is some video of the opening of the North Plainfield Shelter after the Nor 'Easter of March 2010. The famous folks here are Tri-County Red Cross Emergency Services Director Mike Prasad and Disaster Volunteer Leader Terri Esposito of south Plainfield.

Part of sheltering is also making sure people have food to eat, and we generally ask local restaurants to donate. We are happy to say that DiMola's Pizzaria of North Plainfield donated pizza and soda for the families who had to leave their homes. Here's some video of them. Manager Anthony Hernandez is the guy to thank!

The Tri-County Red Cross opened a shelter at the Vermeule Community Center in North Plainfield for residents leaving their homes due to localized flooding.  Many of the creeks and streams are reaching their banks, and due to the expected continued rainfall through tomorrow are likely to overflow.

The Red Cross is opening the shelter at the request of Mayor Mike Giordano and the North Plainfield Office of Emergency Management, who are currently on-site.  Red Cross volunteers have been contacted and are arriving on the scene to roll out the supplies in the Disaster Trailer from Plainfield housed at Muhlenberg Hospital.

The Vermeule Community Center is at 614 Greenbrook Road in North Plainfield, and can house more than 150 people if necessary.

Tri-County Red Cross Emergency Services Director Michael Prasad is also monitoring other communities that flood in Union, Somerset and Middlesex counties and will assist them as needed.

You can donate to the Tri-County Red Cross disaster fund online right here, or by mailing contributions to Tri-County Red Cross, 332 West Front Street, Plainfield NJ 07060.

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The following are the current responses by the American Red Cross to the Chilean earthquake which appears to have caused a tsunami that is heading for Hawaii.  Remember these are the initial responses as we await more information from the local authorities and Red Cross representatives about what is needed from the American Red Cross.

For those looking to volunteer there are Red Cross chapters in every country in South and Central America who are mobilizing, and the American Red Cross is likely not to be asked for volunteers at this time.  We do have some people in South America already on other assignments who will be offering their assistance.

We are not accepting donations specifically for Chile at this time, but if you would like to make a contribution to the American Red Cross International Disaster Fund to support American Red Cross efforts in Chile, the Haiti Earthquake response and other international relief efforts you can do so with this link:

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Funds donated using this button go to the American Red Cross International Disaster Fund and are used to respond to disasters such as the recent Haiti and Chilean Earthquakes.

At this time (Satuday at about 3:15 p.m. EST) , the American Red Cross will be responding with the following:

• The American Red Cross has released $50,000 for immediate response action if needed, and stands ready to mobilize additional support, including relief supplies, trained personnel or financial assistance.
• The American Red Cross has staff in the region and is working to obtain information on the situation.
• In response to tsunami warnings for Hawaii and other areas in the Pacific, and the American Red Cross chapters in Hawaii, Guam and American Samoa are on stand by and are ready to respond if needed. The Red Cross encourages people in Hawaii, Guam or American Samoa to make contact with their families. An easy way to notify loved ones is to register on the Safe and Well feature of redcross.org or by calling 866-438-4636
• The American Red Cross will continue to monitor the situation and communicate with the International Federation on future action.

Here is a video from the American Red Cross International Response Fund that will tell you more:


Note: For concerns about US citizens living in affected areas in Chile, you may contact the US Department of State on 888.407.4747.

Plainfield, NJ: 

Carlos Varon, Emergency Services Director (ESD) from the Nassau County Chapter in Mineola, NY, visited the Tri-County Red Cross chapter in Plainfield, NJ on February 3, 2010 to see where his dad Al Varon volunteers in the disaster services office. Al is one of the lead volunteers who translates many of our documents into Spanish - and he's a wiz on Excel, too!

On the right is Mike Prasad, ESD for the Tri-County Chapter.

You and your family members can volunteer with the Tri-County Red Cross, too! Click on the Volunteer link at the top of our page to find out about our current volunteer opportunities.

Today Tri-County Red Cross volunteers responded to a home fire in Hillside, New Jersey after being called in by the fire department.  The Abimah family, parents Winfred and Roseary and their two year old son Wisdom, were told that they could not return to their apartment and had to go elsewhere.

Our volunteers arranged for hotel rooms for the family and food for a week.  The landlord has arranged to provide a new apartment on Monday for the family.

Thanks to our donors and volunteers for taking care of the Abimah family!

You can donate using this button to the Tri-County Red Cross fund to replenish it for other families who need help in the future.

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