The Red Cross has responded to home fires since our beginning in 1881. Here, a Red Cross worker helps a child in 1972 after a tenement fire. Read more about our history responding to home fires.
By Kevin Murphy, American Red Cross Volunteer
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
A few years after I graduated from high school I adopted this quote as the mission statement for life. Having been born with a disability, I had learned that the world isn’t always fair. Even though I had setbacks of my own, I could still do something that would benefit others.
My first experience with the American Red Cross was in the summer of 2013 when the City of Barberton experienced devastating flooding and my employer, the Lake Anna YMCA, was selected as a shelter site for the city. The next nine days were a whirlwind of activity, but in the end we were able to help a lot of people and do a lot of good in our community. I knew from that point on that the Red Cross was the place for me!
@NEORedCross Disaster Action Team is on site helping a family in Copley this evening. pic.twitter.com/nAfZBXfwEo
— Kevin (@macfankevin) February 20, 2015
Disasters do not pick and choose who they affect. They can strike any person, in any neighborhood, at any time — even at 3 a.m. or when it’s -10 degrees outside. Being a part of the Disaster Action Team has helped me to make a big impact on my community. It makes me feel good to know that I can help someone at a time when the help matters most to them.
@NEORedCross We’re still out providing hot coffee to our firefighters on this cold morning! pic.twitter.com/EeKOo6BTeC
— Kevin (@macfankevin) December 19, 2014
Across the country the Red Cross is a strong organization that helps numerous men, women and children each day. I strongly believe that our work should be shared with as many people as possible. I often post on my personal Twitter handle (@macfankevin) when I am responding to a disaster. It’s not for personal recognition, but rather to help raise awareness of the needs in our community.
@NEORedCross providing lunch and cold water for our local safety forces at CVNP. pic.twitter.com/YTMMCZGjD6
— Kevin (@macfankevin) August 23, 2014
Imagine what would happen if I could inspire someone else to help and then they inspire another person. It’s a never ending cycle of good in the world!
Out late and up early! We will be out at First Responders Day in #cuyahogafalls @NEORedCross pic.twitter.com/dZ2ioFB5Y6
— Kevin (@macfankevin) September 21, 2014
I strongly encourage you to do something to give back to your community. Give. Volunteer . Advocate. Small things that you do today can have a big impact on what happens tomorrow. I have found my niche with the Red Cross. I look forward to many more years of developing my self-capacity and helping others.
Nationally, there are over one million volunteers for the Red Cross. While many volunteers tend to local community needs by those who have experienced a disaster like a home fire or flood, there are many other ways to work with the Red Cross including supporting the Red Cross Service to Armed Forces, Blood Drives, work at events, community meetings, and more. All are welcome and encouraged to make a difference in their community. The Red Cross has created two ways to use your mobile device to help you volunteer, the Team Red Cross App and the Volunteer Connection App.
When a large scale disaster hits, the Team Red Cross App makes it easy for you to help the response through just-in-time training. The app has extensive training materials so you know exactly how to provide help with disaster assessment, feeding, bulk distribution, or other important work to assist those when they need it most. Using the GPS on your mobile device, the app instantly recognizes where you are and tells you what help is needed in your area. For more information, visit www.redcross.org/apps.
The Volunteer Connection app is for those who are currently volunteers for the Red Cross. The app will help you easily update your profile, log your volunteer hours, schedule your shifts or read up on the latest news from your groups. The app works with the existing volunteer connection website, but gives you the power to stay connected through your mobile device. The apps are downloadable for the iPhone and Android servers.
To get started as a volunteer, or learn about additional opportunities visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.
On October 17, the FBI Citizens Academy Foundation (FBICAF) recognized the amount of good the American Red Cross – and other organizations – of Northeast Ohio does for its 4.5 million residents. In a show of recognition and appreciation, the Disaster Services Team was given the FBICAF Unsung Hero Award; a great honor for hometown heroes.
With an average of 2.5 house fires a night, the Disaster Services Team is always available for each emergency and to help neighbors in need of assistance. The team reports to the scene of a single home fire, flood, chemical spill, tornado damage, or other disasters. But they do not only address these types of situations. During the Polar Vortex in early 2014, the severity of the weather caused schools and businesses to be shut down, but not the Red Cross. The Red Cross opened up warming centers that operated across Northeast Ohio, where people were provided with a place of shelter and warmth.
The FBI Citizens Academy Foundation’s Unsung Hero Award requires nominees to display extraordinary effort in assisting victims. The award is given to any person, community service, or agency that takes victims out of bad situations and gives them hope for their future. The ceremony offered two other awards as well. The Citizen Hero Award was given to Youth Opportunities Unlimited, a youth empowering organization. The Safety Forces Hero Award was awarded to the Shaker Heights Police Department.
A special thanks to the Ganley Auto Group, who donated a table to the Red Cross that allowed more people to attend the ceremony. In attendance were Pat Buckhold, Debra Kellar, Tony Rivera, Tina Buckingham, Ron Baumberger, Linda Taylor, Gene McCray, Amy Gibson, Gail Hanes, Marge DeCastro, Diane Homza-Dacek, Kevin Jones, Ramona Lucas, Richard Lucas and Josie Rivera-Lough.
Look for our volunteers on Dawg Pound Drive just outside the stadium at tomorrow’s Browns vs. Ravens game!
The Cleveland Browns are encouraging fans to volunteer 10 hours of service in their own communities during the year.
The First and Ten initiative, which launched in June of 2014, is the first of its kind in the NFL. The Browns are hoping that fans will volunteer over 500,000 hours to communities throughout the area, and really, anywhere that a Browns Fan may live. With over 10,000 pledges already in, they are well on their way to meeting that goal.
This is a perfect partnership for the American Red Cross, which relies on volunteers to continue its mission to prevent and eliminate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Volunteers make up more than 94% of the workforce of the Red Cross.
How can you volunteer to #Give10 hours to the Red Cross in your community?
You can get started as a volunteer by going to www.redcross.org/volunteer and filling out the online form.
Then head over the Brown’s First and Ten website to register, as a Browns’ fan, to give 10 hours in your community.
Share your #Give10 story
If you are social media savvy, you can share your story of giving 10 hours by using the hashtag #Give10 on Twitter. Then tag @BrownsGiveBack and @NEORedCross. Fans can follow the #Give10 movement on Twitter by following @BrownsGiveBack or searching for the hashtag #Give10.
Disaster volunteers responding to a flood call in Lorain #give10 @LCVolunteer @YourChronicle pic.twitter.com/ivX3Y4EGw8
— NEO Red Cross (@NEORedCross) September 12, 2014
Not on twitter? Share your story of volunteerism by visiting the First and Ten site.
