Tag Archives: Case Western Reserve University

American Red Cross Taps Nursing Pool For New Blood Donor Ambassadors

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By Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

Since the Civil War and the earliest days of the American Red Cross, nurses have been some of the biggest supporters of the mission. Red Cross founder Clara Barton was a nurse who risked her life supporting soldiers in the field. It is her legacy that all these years later inspires nursing students from colleges and universities across Northern Ohio to take part in the volunteer blood ambassador program. 

Dr. Mariann Harding of Kent State Tuscarawas is the Regional AS-L Coordinator with Kim Kroh, Executive Director, American Red Cross of Heartland, Stark and Muskingum Lakes

Dr. Mariann Harding, professor of nursing at Kent State University, Tuscarawas Campus, is coordinator for the Academic Service Leadership (ASL) program in Northern Ohio. ASL provides nursing students and nurses returning to college for their bachelor’s degree opportunities to volunteer in the local community.  Currently, about a hundred students participate in the program from Kent State University, both the Kent and Tuscarawas campuses, Case Western Reserve University, and the University of Akron.  

“Students in the Foundations of Nursing class have been volunteering as blood donor ambassadors for several years,” Dr. Harding said. “The donor ambassador experience has been a way to combine service with clinical-based learning.” 

Not only is the ASL program good for the community, Dr. Harding says it is also rewarding and beneficial for her students. “(They) enjoy giving back to the community and find volunteering a meaningful experience. They also learn about the donation process and the safeguards taken to protect the donated blood,” Dr. Harding added. “Many have given blood for the first time during their experience!” 

Kent State University Tuscarawas student, Penelope Cantu is a Red Cross Academic Service-Learning Blood Donor Ambassador volunteer.

Kent State University Tuscarawas student, Penelope Cantu, is a Red Cross ASL Blood Donor Ambassador volunteer. “Having the opportunity to volunteer at Red Cross blood drives has given me insight into how big of an impact blood drives are,” she said. “I had the pleasure of engaging with all kinds of people and listening to why they donate. Their stories helped me realize how much of a difference we all can make when we donate.” 

Find out more on the Blood Ambassador program and other volunteer opportunities here.

Apartment building residents placed in short-term housing

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Red Cross sheltering operations cease after six days

Residents of the Terrace Towers apartments in East Cleveland have been relocated to other short-term housing options, and the shelter operated by the American Red Cross has closed.

Red Cross workers preparing meal distribution.  Photo credit: Cuyahoga County Multimedia

More than 130 residents took refuge in the shelter for six nights, after fire forced them to flee on Monday, July 3rd . They took refuge the first two nights at the Salvation Army East Cleveland Corps Community Center. On Wednesday, the shelter was transferred to a dormitory at Case Western Reserve University. The shelter closed on Sunday.

It was the largest sheltering operation in Northern Ohio since 2004.

 Tom Revolinsky, Red Cross disaster program manager, and Alfreda Scott, Terrace Towers resident.  Photo credit:  American Red Cross

“We made a lot of friends,” said Tom Revolinsky, Disaster Program Manager for the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio. “A lot of the residents were understandably upset when they were forced out of their homes on the night before the fourth of July, but by the time they left the shelter on Sunday, we were getting lots of hugs.”

During the six nights of shelter operations, the Red Cross provided:
 525 overnight shelter stays
 2,023 meals
 304 health services
 256 comfort kits (personal hygiene items)
 125 blankets
 Continuous emotional support

Officials with RHM Real Estate Group, the Terrace Towers property management firm, is providing alternative housing options for the residents while repairs to the apartment complex are being made.

“We’re grateful to Terrace Towers property management for working so diligently this week to find alternative lodging for their residents,” said Emily Probst, Regional Disaster Officer for the Red Cross of Northern Ohio. “And we thank the Salvation Army for providing space for the first two nights, and Case Western Reserve University for opening one of their dormitories to these residents.”

Emmanuel Grant, Terrace Towers resident.  Photo credit: American Red Cross

Emmanuel Grant, one of the residents of Terrace Towers who took refuge at the Red Cross shelter, said, “One thing I appreciate about the Red Cross; they follow scripture when it said to extend hospitality, caring for your neighbor. So these things have really been a blessing.”

Alfreda Scott, Terrace Towers resident. Photo credit: American Red Cross

“My experience, believe it or not, has been wonderful,” said shelter resident Alfreda Scott. “It’s just been like a nice community, and everyone’s been hugging and supporting each other, and it’s been wonderful.”

She said once her housing situation stabilizes, she plans to become a Red Cross volunteer.

“I made some new friends.”

You can hear more from Emmanuel and Alfreda in this video here.

See more photos here.

Red Cross and County Emergency Management workers.  Photo credit:  Cuyahoga County Multimedia

The Red Cross received assistance from several organizations, including the Cuyahoga County Office of Emergency Management, and several businesses stepped-up to provide meals, including Bon Appetit, Case Western Reserve University’s food service provider.

“No one organization can carry out such a challenging task alone, and we’re thankful for all the help the residents received,” said Probst. “We’re also indebted to our dedicated volunteer workforce. We could not have provided such valuable assistance without them.”

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer

More than 90 Homes Made Safer During First Sound the Alarm Event

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Cold and rain fail to dampen the spirit of volunteers

More than 90 families on Cleveland’s west side can sleep more soundly, knowing there are now working smoke alarms in their homes.  The alarms were installed by volunteers from various community groups and corporate partners, who worked with the Red Cross and the Cleveland Fire Department on the first Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation event in Northeast Ohio on Saturday.

The goal of the nationwide program is to save lives.

“Through the combined efforts, we were able to install more than 234 smoke alarms,” said Tim O’Toole, Red Cross Regional Disaster Program Officer. “91 families in the Clark Fulton neighborhood slept safer last night due to the efforts of our combined partnership.”

O'Toole Cavillo Santana

Tim O’Toole, Chief Angelo Calvillo, and Councilwoman Jasmin Santana

Chief Angelo Calvillo of the Cleveland Division of Fire and city councilwoman Jasmin Santana, who represents the neighborhood, helped kick-off the event.

“People don’t realize that when a house fire occurs, you only have a couple of minutes to get out,” said Chief Calvillo. “An alarm will actually notify you and your family to get out of the house.”IMG_5726

 

 

More than 30 volunteers dispersed throughout the neighborhood to help residents create escape plans and to install smoke alarms.  Among the groups represented by volunteers were the Metrohealth System, Prince Hall Masons, and the Red Cross Club from Case Western Reserve University.

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CWRU Red Cross Club volunteers Austin Zhang and Tobi Oshomoji

A Tobi Oshomoji, a sophomore from Nashville, Tennesee, and Austin Zhang, a freshman from Houston, Texas were on a team of installers going door-to-door on Trent Avenue.

“It’s about stepping outside University Circle and interacting with the community,” said Austin. “Cleveland has welcomed us, and we’d like to give back.”

You can see more photos from Saturday’s Sound the Alarm event here, in our Flickr photo album.

The city of Cleveland is one of more than 100 cities nationwide where Sound the Alarm events are taking place between April 28 and May 13.  Volunteers and partners will also help install alarms in Akron, Maple Heights, and Slavic Village during the next three weeks.  For more information or to volunteer, visit soundthealarm.org/neo.