5 Ways to Support World Humanitarian Day

Posted on August 19, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

• Sign the petition to protect civilians trapped in conflict
Visit www.worldhumanitarianday.org to sign the petition demanding that civilians in conflict are protected – encourage your colleagues and counterparts to add their
names.
• Share the #NotATarget campaign on Social Media
Download a social media graphic from our repository http://bit.ly/WHDcomms17 and post it with the following sample tweet to your social media accounts:
On #WorldHumanitarianDay, I stand up for civilians trapped in conflict. They are #NotATarget. Sign the petition at WorldHumanitarianDay.org Visit OCHA’s Twitter (twitter.com/UNOCHA) and Facebook (facebook.com/UNOCHA/) accounts to share the
#NotATarget messages.

• Organize your Stand Together event
Invite your colleagues and partners to stand together in solidarity with millions of civilians trapped in conflict. We have prepared #NotATarget signs for you to print and
hold during the event. (See the guidelines for organizing a Stand Together.)

• Join a Stand Together event
Across the world, the UN and partners will be organizing Stand Together events. Contact an OCHA office in your country to see what is being planned. In New York, on Friday 18 August, you can join the the UN ‘Staff Stand Together’ at 11:30am at UNHQ and the public event in Times Square at 4:00pm. Similar events are being planned across the world. Together we will reaffirm that civilians caught in conflict are #NotATarget and demand global action to protect them.

• Record a Facebook Live video with the #NotATarget filter
Starting from 18 August, visit UNOCHA’s Facebook page where you will find a link to the #NotATarget filter. Access the filter and record a live video, narrating the story of a person trapped in conflict.

The American Red Cross is a part of the global network dedicated to relieving human suffering. Learn more here.

Red Cross Staffer Celebrates 25 Years (and More!) with the Organization

Posted on August 16, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

By: Debbie Chitester, Disaster Program Manager for Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties

I literally have been with the Red Cross since birth, as both of my parents had volunteered with the Red Cross since before I was born. Serving and helping others was instilled in me at a very young age. One of my earliest memories centers around playing house in the old feeding vehicle at the chapter building on 12th and Prospect.

The blizzard of ’78 hit when I was 7-years-old. My family lived at the office for a week while my parents helped with the many aspects of sheltering and communication. My job, that week, was to be the elevator operator. I learned how to close the doors, wind it up and push the buttons to make it go. I also served as the message runner, taking messages from one end of the hall to other.

Over the years I listened to the calls my parents would take from clients, those that had fires or any other emergency. This was a time before a centralized emergency number existed, so people called the Red Cross. Through their examples, I could see that helping people was so rewarding. I watched my parents receive such great satisfaction from giving a little boy, who just had a fire, a bag of apples. I saw, first hand, the power of a simple gesture.

For many years, my dad would always take the Disaster Action Team shift over the four day Thanksgiving holiday. He would always say that he had so much to be thankful for, that he wanted show that gratitude by helping others. So, growing up, there were a few Thanksgiving Day meals interrupted by a call to assist others in need.

It was witnessing these experiences as I was growing up that drove me study Social Work in college. So I, too, could help people.

These memories from my childhood led into many more memories throughout my career. My first disaster relief operation was Hurricane Andrew in 1992. I had just graduated college and had just been hired on as a caseworker after completing my internship. We provided casework services out of tent in South Florida, and we made a home of it for our clients and volunteers. A few weeks into my assignment, we got word that then President of the Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole, was going to stop in for a visit the next day. We all wanted to show off our “home” and set about to tidy up the place. Across the compound was a sign that announced the name of our little home. It had been beat up and faded by the South Florida sun, so I decided that it needed to be spruced up. I found a black sharpie marker, sat down in front of that sign and just started coloring. It was kind of therapeutic in a way to color the sign. As I sat there, the Disaster Mental Health volunteer came by to check on me.

“Everything ok?”

“Oh, yes! I love to color, and it is kind of helpful for me to do this!” I replied.

“Oh,” he said, “that is good.” He turned to walk away. Then he turned back.

“Should I be concerned that you are only using black?”

I smiled back, and, laughing, said, “It was the only color I could find!” The next day Elizabeth Dole showed up, as schedule, and while I do not think she saw my sign, I was still proud of my coloring project.

In my years with this organization, there has always been change. We have moved forward in the last 25-years by always keeping the needs of the client in mind. The biggest, positive change for clients was the implementation of Client Assistance Cards, a pre-paid gift type card that we use to provide financial assistance. This may seem like a such an odd thing as the most positive change, but it really helps the client become more involved with their own recovery. The card helps to take away some of the stigma of being a disaster client, as they can now go where they want and do not have to endure the special attention of using a specific voucher.

I love what I do, and have lived the mission of the Red Cross for a long time.

Regional CEO Mike Parks, Debbie Chitester, and Regional Chief Disaster Officer Tim O’Toole

Debbie celebrated 25-years as a paid staff member with the Red Cross on July 19. She was recognized with an award, seen here, from Regional CEO, Mike Parks and Regional Disaster Officer, Tim O’Toole at the Quarterly All Staff Meeting on August 15.

Sounding the Alarm in Euclid

Posted on August 8, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Partnership with Lincoln Electric and Euclid Fire Department Helps Save Lives

More than 50 employees, trainees and interns from Lincoln Electric fanned out in the shadow of the firm’s giant windmill in Euclid on Saturday to help make residents safer. They were taking part in a home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event, for the third year in a row.

“It’s a way for our company and our employees to give back to the community,” said Chris Mapes, Lincoln Electric CEO. “Our goal is to go out and meet the community and assist them in having a safer home environment, where we can provide them with smoke alarms that have been provided to us by the American Red Cross and make this a safer community.”

Lincoln Electric has been headquartered in Euclid for more than 122 years.

As in the previous two years, the volunteers were first treated to lunch prepared by Chief Chris Haddock and other members of the Euclid Fire Department, long-time partners in our free smoke alarm installation program. The volunteers then received instructions for sharing fire safety information with residents, and for the proper installation of smoke alarms.

Nearly 130 homes were made safer, and almost 370 smoke alarms were installed on several streets in Euclid.

“I’m glad you guys are doing it,” said resident Steve Washington. As the volunteers installed new alarms with 10-year lithium batteries in his home, he said, “If you got children, even pets, if you sleep heavy you’ll hear that thing. It’ll wake you up in a minute. You never know when a fire’s gonna start.”

The home of Denise Miller is once again well protected, as the eight older smoke alarms in her home were replaced with new alarms. “It’s nice to update them. I don’t know how long they’ve actually been in our home,” she said of the old alarms. “My husband had them put up when the kids were little.”

Like many people, Denise wasn’t aware that the sensors that detect smoke from a fire can fail after ten years. “I had no idea. I figured as long as the batteries were chirping, and you pressed the button on occasion, you were good.”

Mike Parks, CEO of the Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region, called the partnership with Lincoln Electric, “One of the best corporate partnerships we have. We have the opportunity to save lives, make homes safer, and make the community more resilient.”

For more pictures from the event, visit our photo album on Flickr here.

Saturday’s smoke alarm installations in Euclid preceded a nationwide effort this fall to install 100,000 smoke alarms in 40 cities across the country. The initiative is called Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. You can join the American Red Cross to Sound the Alarm about home fire safety and help save lives by learning more at soundthealarm.org/neo.

Reflections on Americorps Experiences

Posted on August 4, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Rachel Steiner

Someone once told me that life isn’t about finding yourself but creating yourself. I didn’t really understand what that meant until I started working for this AmeriCorps program at the Red Cross.

Life deals everyone a different hand. Every individual has different strengths and weaknesses. Meeting so many adults and kids through this program, I’ve discovered what it means to be successful. It means putting yourself in situations that may be uncomfortable but can save lives. It means being the strong one and making the right decisions even when it’s difficult or confusing. Successful people struggle just like anyone else. Time and again I’ve seen individuals who’ve lost everything and persevere. No one has complete control over the future but when these people keep making tough decisions every minute of every day; they are giving themselves, and their families, a better chance in the future. Despite the fact that they may have no support system, they are doing it. No one ever became good at dealing with problems without dealing with any problems.

I have no doubt that my AmeriCorps experience at the Red Cross will help me get a good job. I’m very thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been given here. – Rachel Steiner, AmeriCorps Member stationed at the Summit, Portage, and Medina County office

Rachel Steiner and Shelby Begg

Shelby Begg

The experience I’ve had with AmeriCorps and the Red Cross over the past year has been truly amazing. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to provide impactful service to so many families throughout Northeastern Ohio, and that I got to work alongside so many wonderful people – both staff and volunteer! – Shelby Begg, AmeriCorps Member stationed at the Greater Cleveland office

We are so grateful for Shelby and Rachel, who served as AmeriCorps Members for the bulk of the 2017 fiscal year.

“We are grateful for the terrific support from the Corporation for National and Community Service which allowed us the opportunity to have Rachel and Shelby come on board for the year,” said John Gareis, Regional Manager in Preparedness and Community Planning. “By helping support our Home Fire Campaign and Pillowcase Project, we have been able to teach more households and children about fire prevention and the importance of being prepared.”

As their time with the Red Cross winds down, Rachel and Shelby will move on to new projects in their lives.

We will begin the search for two more AmeriCorps members to help work with our Home Fire Preparedness Program and The Pillowcase Project. If you know an individual who would like to join the AmeriCorps program and work with the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate suffering in our community, send them to www.nationalservice.gov to get started on their application today!

Funding for the Red Cross program is provided by a grant from the Corporation for National Community and Service. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.3 billion in education scholarships to pay for college or pay back student loans, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt.

Who Blood and Platelet Donations Help

Posted on July 31, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Arthur Bourget and his daughter Emma Blood shortages could lead to delays in patient care, something Arthur Bourget learned firsthand after being diagnosed with leukemia in July 2007. When he arrived for his second blood transfusion, he was told the blood he needed was not available. He waited eight hours for blood to arrive and to receive the transfusion he needed that day.

“One thing that I committed to my wife was that I was going to beat leukemia, no matter what, and I was going to do that,” said Bourget. “But what I wasn’t going to be able to do was survive without the blood that I needed.”

Bourget went into remission following a successful treatment plan, which included 28 blood and 34 platelet transfusions. He has been a faithful advocate for blood donations ever since.

“If it wasn’t for the generosity of volunteer blood donors, I would not be here today,” he said. “My daughter would not have a father, and my wife would not have a husband. Thank you and please give blood. You may never know the life you have saved, but I guarantee they will never forget you.”

How to help

To schedule an appointment to donate, use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donation appointments and completion of a RapidPass online health history questionnaire are encouraged to help reduce the time it takes to donate.

As a special thank you, those who come out to give blood or platelets with the Red Cross July 26 through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target eGiftCard™.*

What to know about giving blood

To make an appointment or more information, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

* Restrictions apply. Additional information and details are available at redcrossblood.org/summer. The Bullseye Design, Target and Target GiftCard are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. Terms and conditions are applied to gift cards. Target is not a participating partner in or sponsor of this offer.

Dedication for a Donut Dollie

Posted on July 28, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Stretch of Ohio Highway Named for Vietnam-era Volunteer

Ginny Kirsch

The Virginia E. “Ginny” Kirsch Memorial Highway is being dedicated on Sunday July 30, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in Brookfield, Ohio. Ginny was in Vietnam, serving as an American Red Cross “Donut Dollie” when she was murdered in her quarters at the 25th U.S. Infantry Division base camp in Cu Chi, Vietnam on August 16, 1970.

“Donut Dollies” were young women with college degrees who volunteered to serve their country by going to Vietnam to operate Red Cross Recreation Centers, and to help boost morale by staging audience-participation games for U. S. troops. The military asked the Red Cross to provide this service. Volunteers like Ginny wanted to do something important, to make a difference in the world.

State Senator Sean O’Brien recently introduced an amendment to rename State Route 7 in Trumbull County between State Route 82 and State Route 62 the “Virginia E. ‘Ginny’ Kirsch Memorial Highway.”

“The sacrifices made by Americans during wartime come in all shapes and sizes,” O’Brien said. “Looking at her sacrifice, we knew something had to be done for her.”

Governor John Kasich signed the bill on March 31, 2017.

Ginny’s six siblings plan to attend the dedication ceremony at the Brookfield Village Green. Karen Conklin, Executive Director of the Red Cross Lake to River Chapter has been invited to speak. Several other Red Cross representatives plan to attend, and volunteers will hand out water from a Red Cross emergency response vehicle.

Red Cross workers continue to provide critical services with a caring touch to men and women in all branches of the United States military, active duty personnel, reservists and members of the National Guard, and their families, both here and abroad. Learn more about Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces here.

Thousands answer the call, but Red Cross blood shortage continues

Posted on July 27, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

In appreciation, $5 Target eGiftCard™ available for all those who come out to give

Thousands of people have responded to the emergency call for blood and platelet donations issued by the Red Cross in early July, but there continues to be a critical summer blood shortage. Eligible donors of all types are urgently needed.

After issuing the emergency call, the Red Cross has experienced a 30 percent increase in blood donation appointments through mid-July. About half of the appointments were scheduled by donors using the free Blood Donor App or at redcrossblood.org. Despite this improvement, blood products are still being distributed to hospitals as fast as donations are coming in, so more donations are needed to meet patient needs and replenish the blood supply.

“The blood supply is like a cell phone battery, it constantly needs recharging,” said Christy Peters, external communications manager of the Northern Ohio Blood Services Region. “We sincerely appreciate those who have responded to the call to help save lives and encourage those who haven’t to consider rolling up a sleeve and give the gift of life. It only takes about an hour but can mean a lifetime for patients.”

Nearly 61,000 fewer blood donations than needed were given through the Red Cross in May and June, prompting the emergency call for donations in early July. The shortfall was the equivalent of the Red Cross not receiving any blood donations for more than four days.

How to help

As a special thank you, those who come out to give blood or platelets with the Red Cross July 26 through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target eGiftCard™.*

What to know about giving blood

Youngstown-area Volunteers Head into Smoke and Fire of California

Posted on July 26, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Three American Red Cross volunteers from the Northeast Ohio Region are being deployed to California, where a wildfire has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.

Randy Liang of Cuyahoga Falls will help support the technology needs of the Red Cross disaster relief operation in Mariposa County, California.

Mark Strausser and Jason Mitman (in video, above) of Youngstown will work with residents who are staying in shelters as a result of the wildfire.

Red Cross workers and partners helping to provide a safe place to stay and three meals a day for hundreds of displaced residents.

“We help people here, at home, every day,” said Mitman, referring to the help Red Cross workers offer to Northeast Ohio residents who experience home fires and other disasters. “Now I get to help people in California. This is why I volunteer for the Red Cross.”

Other volunteers from Northeast Ohio may also be deployed to help in the days to come.

For information on volunteer opportunities, visit redcross.org/neo, and click on the Volunteer tab.

Check Your Smoke Alarms

Posted on July 18, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Have you checked your smoke alarms lately? Do you know when they expire? Do they have working batteries? Do you know two exits from every room in your home? What about other people who live in your home? Could they get out of a room if a fire blocked the door?

With the heartbreaking news coming from Greater Cleveland about three separate cases of fire fatalities, six deaths, including children, we are imploring residents to get fire safety smart.

Don’t put this off. Start now, today.

“The most common cause, as related to fatal fire, often can be slow or smoldering fires at night,” stated Regional Disaster Officer, Timothy O’Toole in a recent WEWS interview.

This is why it is extremely, EXTREMELY important for you to know more about your own smoke alarms. (See first paragraph for the questions you should be asking yourself.)

Yesterday, reporter Jennifer Auh of WEWS, and cameraman, Brian Sobolewski, saw for themselves the importance of smoke alarms and fire safety education. They tagged along with two Red Crossers – John Gareis and Shelby Begg – as they installed smoke alarms in the home of Arlene Jordan.

If you do not have smoke alarms, contact us. Red Cross volunteers will come to your home and install smoke alarms – for FREE – and help you get started on a fire safety plan. To learn more about our program, visit www.redcross.org/neoosal and click on your county.

Tiffany Circle Members Experience Red Cross Mediterranean Rescues through Powerful Presentation

Posted on July 14, 2017 by American Red Cross of Northern Ohio

Imagine seeing terrified men, women and children crowded on tiny wooden boats and rubber dinghies being rescued from the dangerous, choppy waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

group2

This was the scene that Jenelle Eli watched over and over as she spent nearly a month aboard the Red Cross ship, Responder, which patrolled the central Mediterranean route between North Africa and Italy. She is the Director of International Communications for the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., having specifically traveled to Ohio to share her experiences with Northeast Ohio Red Cross Tiffany Circle members and staff at an event hosted by Donna Rae Smith at the Cleveland Yachting Club in Rocky River on July 7.

Jenelle travels around the world to places like Haiti, Nepal, and the Philippines to observe the global humanitarian and international disaster response work of the Red Cross. She shares her experiences and photos with the news media and through presentations to raise awareness about how Red Cross donations and volunteers are making a huge impact. Years after earthquakes and typhoons have devastated countries, Red Cross assistance continues as communities recover with new irrigation systems, homes and schools.

In sharing with a captivated audience at the Rocky River event, Jenelle explained how last year, the Italian Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a joint life-saving mission with Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) to patrol and conduct rescue missions along the Central Mediterranean route between North Africa and Italy—where most of the 5,000+ drownings in 2016 occurred. The Red Cross helped save the lives of refugees fleeing their countries from war and poverty.

“They are going on boats without water, food or life jackets. The Mediterranean Sea is super dangerous. After they are rescued, the Red Cross provided them with medical care, food and water until they go to Europe where many apply for asylum.’’

When Jenelle asked refugees why they risked their lives going on a raft in the Mediterranean Sea, a father responded that his daughter was so smart that he wanted a better life for her. A woman who cried for hours told Jenelle that she had tears of joy because she had escaped after being kidnapped by a human trafficker and the Red Cross saved her life from the sea.

The Red Cross works in partnership with Red Cross and Red Crescent teams in other countries and deploys volunteers to help upon request. The Red Cross has a roster of about 60 volunteers from all over the country who serve on an international disaster team restoring information technology – among other relief activities – after disasters so people can communicate. David Schindler and John Wright, from right here in Northeast Ohio, are part of that team!

Jenelle was introduced to the crowd at the Cleveland Yachting Club by Donna Rae Smith, Vice Chair of the Northeast Ohio Tiffany Circle. Donna Rae and Tiffany Circle Chair, Laurie Laidlaw Deacon, shared with guests the power of the Tiffany Circle network of women across the United States, who want to change lives, save lives and strengthen communities through a focused investment of time, talent and treasure in the Red Cross.

“We are informed and active decision makers who are network builders, ambassadors, community volunteers, and mothers who greatly influence family and friends – all working to advance the Red Cross mission to help those in need.” – Laurie Laidlaw Deacon, Tiffany Circle Chair

Jenelle also shared the impact of the Red Cross Measles initiative to help save lives.

The Red Cross can continue our efforts to vaccinate the world’s at-risk children against measles – with the goal of ridding the world of this deadly disease.

Measles vaccinations cost only about $1 each – making them an incredibly effective way to improve the health and safety of children around the globe.

To learn more about joining the dynamic women leaders of the Tiffany Circle, contact Donna Gracon at donna.gracon@redcross.org.

For more photos from her deployment at sea, search What I Heard in the Middle of the Mediterranean in the Middle of the Night. Learn more about how the Red Cross helps people around the world by reading Jenelle’s contributions to the Red Cross website: http://www.redcross.org/news-events/news?tag=International, or by contacting Jessica Tischler, Director of Services to the Armed Forces and International Services for the Northeast Ohio Region, at jessica.tischler@redcross.org.

NOHredcross

American Red Cross of Northern Ohio Region