In Case You Missed It - Dec 7

Red Cross helped dozens of families after a 5-alarm fire in the Bronx.

Over the last 7 days, the Greater New York Red Cross provided emergency assistance to 109 adults and 51 children following 49 local disasters. Here are some highlights from last week and a preview of upcoming activities (see below).

Last Week in Review

• On Saturday, the #GetAlarmedNYC campaign made its way to Jackson Heights (Queens), where 20 Red Cross volunteer teams canvassed the neighborhood to serve over 700 community residents by installing more than 350 free smoke alarms (photos by Syncere Zakee).
• Saturday also proved to be a busy day for the Metro New York North Red Cross. First up was the annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive in Greenwich, Conn. where local police, fire and EMS personnel held a friendly competition to see which group could donate the most units of blood.
• There were also two Holiday Mail for Heroes events that took place later that day in Metro NY North: one at the Jefferson Valley Mall and another at Greenwich Hospital.
• On Thursday, volunteers from the Long Island Red Cross supported the Holiday Mail for Heroes program by sorting cards to be given to service members and veterans throughout the region.
• After a terrible 3-alarm fire gutted three homes on Clove Road in Staten Island late Tuesday night morning, Red Cross volunteers worked late into the night to provide emergency housing and emergency financial assistance to one of those families.
• On Tuesday, the Red Cross met with Manhattan Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright who expressed her appreciation for the Red Cross and its readiness to assist her district in the event of an emergency.
• On Monday, the Red Cross helped dozens of families affected by a 5-alarm blaze on Montgomery Ave in the Bronx. Thank you to all who worked late into the night to support this response.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

• Win a Deluxe Emergency Preparedness Kit by taking the online emergency preparedness training. You’ll be automatically entered to win. This contest is open to residents of New York City, Long Island, Orange, Sullivan, Rockland, Putnam and Westchester Counties. Four winners will be chosen each month (notified via email).
• Dec 7: Red Cross blood drive; 1 to 7pm; 520 West 49th Street, Manhattan. Schedule an appointment to donate today.
• Dec 12, 19: If you want to give back to the community and join the #GetAlarmedNYC Home Fire Campaign, attend the Home Fire Safety Academy. Trainings teaching everything you need to know to be a part of this lifesaving effort are taking place on Dec 12 and 19. Submit your application today.
• Dec 13-15: The American Red Cross will have a booth at the National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC), which is an annual conference that brings together service providers, policy makers, researchers and business leaders from around the country to discuss issues concerning immigration, inclusion and integration.