Haiti/Chapter Update
Posted Monday, March 22, 2010 at 11:38 AM by Tom Foley
- Our volunteers have responded to over 150 local disasters, which displaced more than 500 people.
- Red Cross House has been at over 80% occupancy since January 12, with 17 families, 48 people with us today (including a family of five who were burned out of their home on Howland Street in Philadelphia on Saturday night).
- Our health and safety team has taught 1,428 classes, training (and certifying) almost 15,000 people in lifesaving techniques.
- Our emergency services team has helped well over 200 military families by connecting those serving our country with friends and family back home.
- Our Red Cross Club kids have been all over the map helping us with creative fundraising strategies in their schools, raising awareness about Red Cross locally, in Haiti and Chile, and continuing their community service projects (over 60 last year).
We are only able to rise to the financial and other needs in Haiti, in Chile, and in this region because our staff and volunteers have built up a significant level of trust in this five county community, and because this community is so generous. Truly amazing.
Hope this information is useful to you. Thank you for all your support.
Comment on this post
Tags: What Would You Buy With $50?
Posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 4:38 PM by Melissa Hunsberger
What would the Red Cross buy with fifty dollars? A lot of good! A gift of any amount helps families right here at home who have been affected by disaster. In fact
- $10 buys 2 blankets for victims in emergency shelters.
- $20 buys one kit with supplies to clean a home after a disaster.
- $50 buys groceries for one person for one week.
- $110 buys clothes for a child who has lost everything from shoes to shirts.
- $250 buys cots for a family of four for one week.
- $350 buys food and shelter for 25 people for one day.
- $500 helps with medical expenses for an adult injured in a disaster.
- $1500 is the average cost of disaster relief for a family.
To donate to the Red Cross, click here.
Chile Quake Update
Posted Monday, March 8, 2010 at 1:25 PM by Leah Kristie
The American Red Cross has increased its pledge to $500,000 for relief operations in Chile following the 8.8 magnitude earthquake on February 27. The American Red Cross is providing 5,000 water-carrying cans, following an appeal for relief supplies from the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC), and we are prepared to provide additional relief supplies, trained personnel and financial assistance.
The Chilean Red Cross has activated volunteers to distribute food, hygiene articles, blankets, and mental health services to survivors. In addition, the Chilean Red Cross has called upon the local people to donate blood in order to keep up with demand from hospitals. A five-member regional Red Cross team of disaster experts is in Chile to provide technical support for Chilean Red Cross response activities and to perform damage assessments, emergency relief and communications support.
The global Red Cross network has issued a response plan that will provide relief supplies, emergency shelter, basic health care, and water and sanitation for 15,000 families for six months.
American Red Cross Responds to Chile Quake
Posted Monday, March 1, 2010 at 11:26 AM by Leah Kristie
Our hearts go out to the people of Chile as they cope with the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks. Chilean officials report that more than 2 million people have been affected by the earthquake and approximately 1.5 million houses may have sustained damage. Water and electricity have been severely restricted or cut off, and communications systems are down.
Chilean Red Cross volunteers are providing limited search and rescue services, administering First Aid, and distributing pre-positioned supplies in close coordination with the Chilean National Emergency Office. The Chilean Red Cross has 29 branches in Bio Bio and 14 in Maule.
The American Red Cross has made an initial $50,000 available for relief operations. An American Red Cross representative and a team of other Red Cross emergency workers are en route.
The American Red Cross is monitoring the situation in Chile while continuing to support the massive relief operations in Haiti, where more than 1.3 million people have been helped since the January 12 quake.
A Mother and Child, Divided After Earthquake, Reunite
Posted Friday, February 26, 2010 at 1:54 PM by Melissa Hunsberger
Read the full story that appeared in today's Wall Street Journal.
Julie Platner for the Wall Street Journal
Be the First to Know
Posted Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 6:14 PM by Melissa Hunsberger
Why not start receiving text messages with actual information you can use!
Happy News Out of Haiti
Posted Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 12:51 PM by Melissa Hunsberger
As reported in today's Wall Street Journal, "Haitian Mother to Reunite with Son."
Ianthe Dugan/The Wall Street Journal
Video Journal from Haiti
Posted Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 11:17 AM by Leah Kristie
Check out the video below made by American Red Cross volunteer Bonnie Gillespie. Ms. Gillespie just returned from a 3-week deployment to Haiti. In this video journal, she reflects on her experience, highlighting the joy of the Haitian people in the midst of terrible destruction.
Do Yourself a Favor:
Posted Friday, February 19, 2010 at 9:02 AM by Luke Van Meter
If you're using a fire extinguisher like the above one.... Get a real one.
Be Careful with Electronics
Posted Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 3:03 PM by Luke Van Meter
I know - it's winter, which means you are staying indoors and using all of your appliances: computer, TV, printer, stereo, DVD player, lava lamp, etc.. But it's also cold and you only have one accessible outlet (your dresser is in front of the other one). So, you're plugging your space heater into the same power strip as everything else. Don't forget to charge your phone, MP3 player, and portable electronic solitaire game all in the same outlet, which is fine because plastic doesn't burn and electrical fires are a myth.
If your outlet looks like the below picture, and you are rationalizing this behavior with the above argument, you are in danger of starting a fire in your home.
I urge you to be conscious of how many items are plugged into each outlet. Be especially aware of heat-producing elements like space heaters or hair dryers, since these use an absurd amount of current. I promise you won't suffer terribly if you have to turn off some of your appliances while you're using others. This will also save you money on your electric bill. And if you're still using that old extension cord from 1936 with cracked insulation, consider upgrading to something a little safer.
One final note about electricity use: No matter how badly you need a 9-volt battery for your electric lightsaber, I strongly urge you not to take it from your smoke detector.
