My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Shirley Gaines

Written by: Courtney Clarke, Communications Volunteer

Shirley Gaines has personal experience with
two lines of service at the American Red Cross.

Years of service: 3

Resides: Woodbridge, VA

Profession: Retired Medical Transcriptionist, Kaiser Permanente

Why do you believe in the work of the Red Cross?

Shirley and her family have had several personal experiences with the Red Cross, dating back over 50 years! They have been assisted by two lines of service within the Red Cross: Service to the Armed Forces and Disaster Services.

In the late 1960s, her brother was in the Army, stationed in Vietnam. The family would go long stretches of time without hearing from him, and they would worry about his safety. During one especially long period without contact from him, the family asked the Red Cross to track him down. The Red Cross was able to locate him and learn that he was recovering from malaria and was assigned to a clerical post in Vietnam. The family was relieved to learn that he was alive and well. 

Years later, Shirley’s mother’s home in Arlington, VA caught on fire. As the flames blazed, Shirley’s mother felt a sense of hopelessness and desperation. The Red Cross was instrumental in providing her mother, brother and sister with hotel accommodations until the soot that covered everything in their house was cleaned up and they received their homeowner’s insurance payment. Even more importantly than the financial assistance, the Red Cross restored her sense of calm and peace. Shirley doesn’t know what the family would have done without the Red Cross.

Based on her personal experience with the Red Cross, Shirley firmly believes in the organization and its mission. "You know where your money and resources are going when you donate to the Red Cross. I feel that the resources are going to the right place," she explains. Even for those who don’t have financial resources to donate, Shirley encourages people to donate blood, which is what she does. 

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"I believe in the Red Cross and I give blood because they do a lot of good work.  This is my way of helping people - I don't always have cash to make financial donations, but I have blood and if i can give blood, that's something."

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Why do you donate blood to the Red Cross?

Shirley is an Army veteran and has been active with the American Legion in the DC area for fifteen years. The Legion introduced her to donating blood around three years ago, when they had a blood drive on-site, and she has been donating quarterly ever since. This adds up to about 12 pints of blood, and each pint can save up to three lives!

With less than 38% of the U.S. population eligible to give blood, Shirley knows that her gift is an important one. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illness or traumatic injuries. “Donating blood is my way of helping to save lives,” Shirley boasts.

Donating blood is easy!

Donating blood is a simple process. First, go to redcrossblood.org to locate your nearest blood donation center and schedule an appointment. Then, to save time, click on the "RapidPass" link and complete your pre-reading and health history questions. When you arrive for your appointment, you'll be seated comfortably while a pint of blood is drawn; the actual donation only takes 8-10 minutes. After donating, you can enjoy a snack and a drink for 10-15 minutes before resuming your day. The entire donation process takes about an hour.

Click here to learn more about our Service to Armed Forces services. 

Click here to learn more about donating blood with the American Red Cross near you.

Red Cross Giving Day - You Can Help One Family

By Cathy Simpson, Volunteer

In 2018, Red Cross volunteers helped millions of people reeling from a second consecutive year of record wildfires, hurricanes, tragic shootings and other large disasters across the country. Nearly every eight minutes, we met a family who lost everything to a disaster—the roof over their heads, their clothes, their most cherished possessions. But you can help during those first devastating hours. Join us by giving on March 27 for American Red Cross Giving Day.

You can schedule your donation now: redcross.org/givingday and #help1family. 

On Giving Day, we ask for everyone’s support to reach our goal of helping 25,000 families. By making a financial donation on March 27 at redcross.org/givingday, you’ll unite with thousands of people to help families during the first devastating hours of a disaster. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief for families who need it most.

Ever wonder what it takes to support one family after a disaster?

• $88.50 can provide a family of three in urgent need with a day’s worth of food, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus blankets and other essentials in the aftermath of a disaster.
• $60 can provide six people with a nourishing meal that includes a main course, snacks and a drink to those impacted by disasters. 
• $30 can ensure that children and families stay warm and can get a good night’s sleep with six comforting blankets.

Did you know that on average, each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 62,000 disasters across the country to provide hope and comfort to people in need. We also collect more than 4.7 million units of blood and more than 900,000 platelet donations from nearly 2.7 million volunteer donors to meet the needs of patients at hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. To support this lifesaving work of the American Red Cross, we need your help.

We are asking you to join our team. By uniting together, we can make an impact.

Be one of the first to make a Giving Day gift now at redcross.org/givingday.

My Day at a Red Cross Blood Drive: Sandy Habib

By Sandy Habib, Volunteer

The American Red Cross urges people to share their good health and resolve to give blood regularly, beginning in January with National Blood Donor Month. Extreme winter weather in some parts of the country and seasonal illnesses often make it difficult for the American Red Cross to maintain a sufficient blood supply at this time of year. Healthy individuals are urged to give now. 

It’s widely known that the American Red Cross is in continuous need of blood donations. Winter, however, is an especially challenging time for the Red Cross to meet its blood demands for many reasons. Regular donors are often busy with the holidays and travel plans. Harsh winter weather and widespread cases of the flu can also be obstacles. The fact is, though, that the Red Cross must collect more than 2,500 platelet and about 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide. These blood products are perishable and need to be distributed to hospitals quickly, so it’s imperative that donors continue giving blood year-round to avoid delays in essential medical care.

Giving blood is a rewarding experience for those who are able to do their part and help patients in need. There are many of us, though, who, for a whole host of reasons, cannot donate blood. That doesn’t mean that we can’t make contributions in other ways. For example, on January 10, 2019, I was a Blood Donor Ambassador at a blood drive at the Red Cross office at 123 N. Alfred Street in Alexandria.

Here I am greeting donors as they arrive. This is a rewarding volunteer role
for anyone with free time on weekday afternoons (or some weekends).

As Ambassador, I greeted donors as they arrived and thanked them for coming in. Then I signed them in and provided them with their blood donation information. There was usually time before the donors were called in, so I had the opportunity to chat with them. I met one gentleman who has donated close to 100 times – incredible! I also spoke to some high school students who were excited about donating for the first time. Everyone was friendly and courteous, and I really enjoyed getting to meet all the donors. I commended them all on their selfless act of giving blood.

Like the donors, the staff was very sociable. They were professional, yet charismatic. They played lively music in the background which created a comfortable environment, putting donors at ease. My watch indicated that I volunteered for 3.5 hours, but since I spent the time with so many wonderful people, it felt as though it was about half of that.

The Red Cross blood staff works hard to make sure that facilities
are clean and comfortable for donors. This is the blood drive room
at the Red Cross office in Alexandria, VA. 

Even if you can’t donate blood, there are other ways you can help the cause. Like me, you can volunteer your time at a blood drive. You can make a financial donation. Maybe you can leverage your social media presence to donate your birthday/special occasion, honor someone special or start a virtual drive for your organization to encourage others to donate blood and/or money.  Even better, if you have a large, open space to host a blood drive, you can have up to 50 of your friends/colleagues/family members donate blood in a single day! There are many ways to make an important impact and promote blood drives in your community. The key is to find what works best for you and commit to helping the Red Cross.

Go to www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about how you can donate blood to help the Red Cross save lives.

To host a blood drive, go to the “Hosting a Blood Drive” or click here to learn more and apply!

Why you’re better than 32% of most people

By Ian Seth Levine, Volunteer

I'm not going to try to convince you to donate blood. There's something so sacred about blood that we create folklore centered on creatures taking it from us: the German Alp, the Jewish Lilitu, the Latin American Chupacabra. While these creatures aren't real, our fear of losing something valuable is.  And from that fear stems myths not only about losing blood, but also about freely giving it away. For example, many people think that donating blood is an inconvenient, unnecessary, and painful way to contract an exotic and incurable disease. But much like Dracula, these are only myths.

Here are the facts:
A single car accident victim could need up to 100 pints of blood. If we took all of the drivers who crashed their cars last year in Virginia, we could completely pack Camden Yards, Yankee Stadium, PNC Field, and BB&T Ballpark. A person can donate only one pint of blood at a time, so can you really rely on enough people to step up and donate should you need it?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. Why? 17% of people surveyed who don't donate blood say it's because they "never thought about it." In other words, if you asked one hundred people to help you after a serious collision, the first seventeen would completely ignore you. Then, an additional fifteen people would tell you they're "too busy.”

I'm not going to presume to know your schedule. I know only my schedule. I teach for two universities, write articles and blog posts for American Red Cross, and run my namesake blog about writing. It took me longer than I'd care to admit, but I'm not as busy as I thought. In between my responsibilities were pockets of down time, which I tended to fill with binge-watching and PinstaSnap BookTube. But in less time than it took to watch an episode of Narcos, even I donated blood.

 

I think blood is fascinating. For example, the milky blue blood of the horseshoe crab is so good at detecting infections it's valued at $14,000 a quart by biomedical companies. Your blood has traces of gold in it. Some insects have violet blood. Dogs have blood types just like humans.

And, if you scheduled an appointment to donate right now, you'd be better than 32% of most people.

My Red Cross Story: Lily King

By Rose Ellen O'Connor, Volunteer

Lily King needed a social service project (known as a Tzedakah Project) for her Bat Mitzvah. She’d been studying the story of Noah’s Arc and the big flood and that gave her an idea. She would reach out to flood and disaster victims across the country.

She had put together personal-care kits for disaster victims through her Girl Scout troop, but decided to work with the Red Cross this time. Lily, 12, with help from her family, managed to collect donated items to fill 300 “comfort kits,” matching the record for the most collected in a single project.

“It makes me feel wonderful that I can help so many disaster victims and make sure they will have the basic essentials as they are going through a hard time,” Lily says.

Lily started her project at the beginning of 2018 and was finishing up in late September.

“She really wanted to dedicate her time to helping disaster victims since there are so many natural disasters and floods all throughout the U.S., Lily’s mom, Linda, says. “It means a lot to her to be able to work with the Red Cross and help victims.”

Red Cross comfort kits are given out during floods, natural disasters, home fires, you name it. Each kit includes a razor and shaving gel, a toothbrush, travel-size toothpaste, travel-size body wash, travel-size hand lotion, travel/full-size shampoo, travel/full-size deodorant, facial tissues, wash cloths and a small plush toy for a small child or pet.

Lily and her mom, Linda, started out by going to grocery stores to solicit items for the comfort kits, but only a few donated. Lily’s father, Josh, decided to build an Amazon “Wish List” with exactly the items she needed, similar to a bridal or baby shower registry. Like magic, donations quickly poured in through the mail.

“Our friends were so kind and generous to donate to this amazing cause,” Linda says. “We had such an overwhelming response.”

Lily was thrilled.

“I was actually surprised by how much we got because I had heard that 300 comfort kits were the most they’ve ever gotten, so I was really happy when we received so many donations,” Lily says.

The project became a family affair. Her mother, father and brothers Zachary, 10, and Chase, 7, all worked to put the kits together. Even baby brother Brody, 3, chipped in.

“He doesn’t work as fast as us,” Lily says. “He’ll grab something and hand it to us to help us put it in.”

Weekends became a special time when the family worked together on Lily’s project.

“It makes us all feel good,” Lily says. “It was fun to work together as a family to help others.”

Lily and her family live in Rockville, Maryland. In late September, they had just received the last of their donations and were finishing up putting together the kits. Her Bat Mitzvah was this past weekend on Oct. 13 at Temple Beth Ami in Rockville. She’ll turn 13 this month and says she would like to volunteer again for the Red Cross when she’s older.

“It sounds like an awesome thing to do,” she says. “And I’ll get to help so many people.”

Where did A, B & O go? Red Cross needs YOU to fill the Missing Types

N_tice _nything missing? A few missing letters may not seem like a big deal, but for a hospital patient who needs type A, B or O blood, these letters mean life. 

As part of an international movement, the American Red Cross is launching the Missing Types campaign to raise awareness of the need for new blood donors – and those who haven’t given in a while – to donate and help ensure lifesaving blood is available for patients in need. You may notice A’s, B’s and O’s – representing the main blood groups – missing from signage, websites, social media and other public-facing platforms to illustrate the critical role every blood donor plays.

The sad fact is that blood shortages are not uncommon in the U.S. and other parts of the world. But they can be prevented when more people roll up a sleeve to give.

When blood types go missing 

“Can you imagine your child or loved one actually needing lifesaving blood and to be told there may be no blood at the blood bank? That happened to us two times with blood and platelets,” said Susie Dotson, whose daughter Lily needed more than a dozen blood and platelet transfusions during treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Hearing that the hospital didn’t have the blood or platelets Lily needed – and that she would have to wait for transfusions – was incredibly frustrating and eye-opening for the Dotson family.
“People automatically think blood is there. They don’t realize we’re relying on their blood donation,” said Susie. “Lily needed blood products just as much as the chemo or the treatment.”

Today, Lily has been cancer-free for four years and will be celebrating her 12th birthday this summer. 

Join the movement

1. Give blood – Schedule your appointment at RedCrossBlood.org/MissingTypes or with the Blood Donor App.
2. Recruit new donors – Encourage a friend or family member to roll up a sleeve too.
3. Spread the word – 
• Take a photo with one of these selfie signs and post it to your social media along with the message “I am the #MissingType.” 
• Write out your name with the A’s, B’s and O’s missing on the “blank” selfie sign, and take a photo with it. (Underscores are recommended. Example: _meric_n Red Cr_ss)
• Visit RedCrossBlood.org to share a Missing Types message on your social media.

What to expect at your donation

Giving blood is simple. Commit about an hour of your day to help save a life.

• Registration – Sign in, show your ID and read the required information. 
• Health check – Answer questions and receive a mini-physical. 
• Donation – Giving a pint of blood takes about 8-10 minutes.
• Refreshments – Enjoy some snacks and relax before resuming your day.

Speed up the donation process by completing the pre-donation reading and answering your health history questionnaire online with RapidPass on the day of your donation.

 

Y_u _re the #MissingType p_tients need. Don’t wait until the letters A, B and O go missing from the hospital shelves. Schedule your appointment to give now.

The Devastation Caused By Hurricane Harvey Inspired Me To Help Others: Judith Ahanonu’s Story As A Red Cross Volunteer

Interviewed by: Rosalind SE Carney, volunteer
 
What motivated you join the Red Cross as a volunteer?
“I drove past the Red Cross building at the time when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, Texas. I had seen on the news the devastation the people faced and I decided there and then to volunteer with the Red Cross.”
 
What recent volunteer work did you perform for the Red Cross?
“I volunteered with the finance department of the Red Cross. I became part of a team of four members known as the “gratitude gang.” The role of the gratitude gang was to thank people for recent donations ranging from $100 to $10,000. Donors who gave $5000-$9999 received a handwritten thank you note. Those who donated $1000-$4999 received a personalized thank you email, and the remaining donors were thanked by a phone call from a member of the gratitude gang.”
 
How was your experience as a Red Cross volunteer?
“It was a really rewarding experience, especially as this process of personally thanking donors was recently initiated with the creation of the gratitude gang. At the last count, my teammates (Christine Spalding, Lauren Waymire, Laura Song) and I had thanked over 28,000 donors. We also had the opportunity to interview by phone volunteer recruits who wanted to deploy to assist with hurricane relief efforts.”
 
Is there a particular anecdote of a phone call with a donor that you remember?
“Yes! A lady told me that she had volunteered with the Red Cross for twelve years. Her late husband had also been a volunteer and they had regularly donated money to the Red Cross when natural disasters occurred. The phone call from the gratitude gang was the first thank you call she had received. She was so touched that she promised to continue donating. She also encouraged us to keep up the good work! She said that the phone call was so fulfilling and that she really appreciated being recognized by the Red Cross.”
 
What did you perceive as the donors’ primary motivation?
“In general, compassion; people just wanted to help. Others just wanted to give back to society as a humanitarian response. Some of the donors had relatives and friend in the areas affected by Hurricane Harvey or Hurricane Irma.”
 
What future volunteer roles are you looking forward to with the Red Cross?
“I would really like to be deployed to relief shelters because it really makes you appreciate the little things in life. You have to have a heart larger than life itself to embark on such missions. I LOVE what the Red Cross stands for, I commend them for returning normality to communities daily, touching lives in many ways. It was really an eye-opening, rewarding and fulfilling experience for me to volunteer as a part of the gratitude gang. It is an honor to be granted this interview to inform others of my experience. Thank you.”

www.redcross.org/volunteer

You Can Make a Difference. Give Blood

by Emily Goff

It is National Blood Donor Month, and I am thrilled to report that my high school recently embraced the challenge to give the vital gift of blood. Lacking a Red Cross-specific club, Herndon High School had its Key Club student organization promote and organize a blood drive, and the effort was ultimately quite successful! Dozens of students made the decision to give blood to help support those in need. I asked several of the donors to share what sparks their passion to be a blood donor, and the responses I received were touching.

  

“I donate blood every chance I get because I feel it’s important to help others in any way possible, especially with something as important as blood supply. It feels rewarding to help such a great cause and each time I donate that feeling of rewarding never ceases. Knowing that when I donate my blood I am saving three lives is incomparably fulfilling” - Melissa

“I choose to donate blood because I have always wanted to help others, and I felt like this was one way to do so. I feel really good donating! I feel like I have accomplished my goal of helping others who are in need of blood. I would love to do it again; it was a great experience.” - Divya

“I wanted to donate blood because every day someone with cancer or other diseases dies because there is no blood available to them. I felt like even if I was afraid of needles, just by donating 500mL I can hopefully save someone’s life or at least help someone. Also, after donating blood, it feels like I’ve achieved something. I feel really good now that I made the decision to donate blood. I feel like I’m giving back and truly making a difference, and I will gladly do it again whenever I have the opportunity.” - Sujata

These high school students had a gratifying blood donating experience, and the best part is that you can have one too! Everyone’s experience with donating is unique, with many different reasons why people give blood, but the end goal is ultimately the same: supporting fellow humans amid medical struggles. Learn more about how you can help patients receive lifesaving treatments  via blood donation.

All eligible donors are urged to schedule an appointment to give today by using the Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

LIVE Giving Day Telethon April 21

COO Geoff DeLizzio and Yoda from 2015 Giving Day Telethon

If we each ‪#‎help1family‬, think of what we could do! Join us right here for the American Red Cross Giving Day on Thursday April 21 from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. We'll be live streaming our second annual telethon and celebrating the thousands of local Red Cross supporters with tips, tricks, and other activities. Make sure to mark your calendar to watch the telethon AND call in to join the fun at 202-643-0303.

Feel good and #help1family. Make a gift today: https://givingday.redcross.org/region/dc

Save the Date for Giving Tuesday

Written by: Divya S., volunteer

On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, the Red Cross is participating in a global day dedicated to giving, #GivingTuesday. Last year, more than 27,000 organizations in 68 countries came together to celebrate Giving Tuesday. Since its founding in 2012, Giving Tuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, volunteer hours and activities that bring about real change in communities. We invite YOU to join the movement and give this year.

Non-profits across the country use Giving Tuesday as a chance to share their story and ask for support. The American Red Cross launched a social campaign highlighting our favorite stories from the past year. These narratives have inspired us, humbled us and made us proud to be Red Crossers. They show everyday heroes in action – stories where taking a lifesaving training course helped to save a life, volunteers spreading the word about fire safety, even our work overseas.

Stay tuned to Red Cross social channels to see Red Crossers in action 24/7/365. Follow and use #GiveWithMeaning on social channels during this campaign and throughout holiday season. Visit www.givingtuesday.org and www.redcross.org to learn more about how you can make a difference.

National Capital Region Social Pages

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Corporate Giving in Your Nation's Capital: An Inside Look at the American Red Cross Ready 365 Giving Program

Written by: Reed Mszar, volunteer

The American Red Cross Ready 365 Giving Program is targeted to local corporations seeking to provide financial support to the Red Cross in the $25,000 - $75,000 (mid-level) giving range. Ready 365, not only standardizes the rights and benefits for corporate donors of the Red Cross, but it also highlights two valuable principles. The first is that in order to make a significant difference in the community, a certain level of give-and-take is necessary. The giving program helps bring in financial support from local businesses for the Red Cross to use when responding to local disasters like floods and home fires and also provides the same corporations and foundations an opportunity to gain a valued relationship with the Red Cross brand and thus, enhance their reputation in the community. Depending on the company’s giving level, ranging from Bronze all the way to Platinum, they will also be recognized in front of other Red Cross supporters.

The second ideal that Ready 365 embodies is that no matter who you are or where you live, you can help your community and those in need. Prior to Ready 365, there was no consistent framework for annual corporate giving at the mid-level giving range specified above. This inevitably led to a great deal of variation in mid-level giving programs among different Red Cross chapters across the country. It is expected that not all businesses who wish to support the efforts of the American Red Cross can give to the same degree as others. Ready 365 takes this fact into consideration as the benefits of joining the program are flexible based on the market size of the region in which the company is located and the capacity at which they can give. Regardless of how big or small a corporation is, there are now clear guidelines on how they can best maximize their gifts to their local American Red Cross.

The most recent company to join Ready 365 in the National Capital Region is Host Hotels and Resorts in Bethesda, Maryland. Without companies like Host Hotels and Resorts, we at the Red Cross would not have been able to respond to over 477 local disasters and teach 54,728 people lifesaving skills in an array of classes in the past year. Ready 365 provides the American Red Cross the flexibility to apply the gifts where the need is greatest.

Companies and foundations who choose to join Ready 365 and develop a valuable relationship with the Red Cross will have the opportunity to enhance their existing reputation, deepen relationships within their community, generate donations to give back to vital markets, and have their gifts highlighted through high-traffic communication channels. A variety of specific benefits are also outlined in the local benefits matrix depending on a company’s particular giving level.

Ready 365 certainly has the potential to build stable and lasting relationships between the American Red Cross and regional business looking to make a difference in the lives of many every day.

I'm all in this Red Cross Giving Day because…

  …I know the Red Cross can fulfill immense needs through the kindness of our communities, which is where you come in:

Ever wish you could make a bigger impact in your community? Well the American Red Cross is giving you an opportunity to do so by becoming a Social Ambassador for Giving Day!

What is Giving Day? It is a new annual fundraising campaign, which will take place on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. Giving Day is something new and exciting for the Red Cross – a 24-hour crowd-funding event for our entire organization to rally around the Giving Day theme, “All in 1 Day,” asking the American public to stand with us and donate to the mission on June 2, 2015.

As a Social Ambassador you have the chance to use social networking to encourage your family and friends to support the American Red Cross and our mission. The provided Social Ambassador Toolkit provides easy click and paste social posts, resources to share your personal stories and staying involved! Your role as a Social Ambassador helps build the #allin1day movement through actively sharing, recruiting new social ambassadors, and encouraging others to participate! Let’s go #allin1day…

Sign up to be an ambassador https://givingday.redcross.org/#ambassadors

Pledge a donation now or give on June 2 https://givingday.redcross.org/#npo/national-capital-area-region

Written by: Susan Kumah, volunteer

Not All Heroes Wear Capes

... Although Many Wear Red!

By Geoff DeLizzio, Chief Operating Officer

In March we celebrate American Red Cross Month and honor those who dedicate themselves to our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in our community, country, and around the world.  (See President Obama’s Proclamation Here)

Everyday Heroes Helping Every Day 

In the first 2 months of 2014 the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region has responded to over 100 incidents and served over 450 clients in every jurisdiction throughout the DC Metro Area. We’ve responded to those impacted by house and apartment fires, water main breaks, gas and power outages, and set up emergency shelters during the extreme weather events of January and February.

We continue to train our community in First Aid, CPR, and general preparedness. Recently we launched the Pet First Aid App that provides advice for everyday emergencies such as the treatment of wounds, shock, heat-related emergencies and CPR for both dogs and cats. In February alone, over 30% of incidents we responded to included pets needing love and care. 

On any given day you can find an American Red Cross blood drive throughout our region. Due to the extreme weather there is still an urgent need for blood donors. Ever wanted to save a life? This is how you can do it today!  (Find a donor site here)

Heroes Helping Heroes

The American Red Cross is also present on most military installations throughout the DC region. Our heroes directly support the troops and their families by giving workshops on topics such as coping with deployment and resiliency training, serve as volunteers on installations including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir, and greet our wounded warriors every week when they arrive at Joint Base Andrews. 

Our volunteers have already been busy in 2014. We cannot do it without them and we need more heroes. 

How Can You Get Involved?

• Volunteer:  Become a Hero and serve your local community
•  Donate Blood:  Save a life. Need I say more?
• Donate Money:  We exist on the generosity of our donors. Consider a donation of any size
• Be Prepared:  Get Trained and Make a Plan for you and your family (don’t forget Fido)
• Attend one of our March Events
• March28:  One Enchanted Evening, Heritage HuntCountry Club
• March27:  Social Hour at Virtue in Alexandria

I may be biased, but our volunteers are HEROES! A big THANK YOU to all those who serve: past, present, and future!

New Year’s Resolutions, Red Cross Style!

Resolve To Be Prepared

By Lisa Newman, Volunteer Contributor 

Welcome to 2014!  For many of us, the new year is a time for self-reflection, renewal and goal setting.  Maybe we commit to exercising regularly, changing careers, volunteering in the community, or all of the above.  I don’t know about you but my resolutions seem much more doable in January, than say, June!   

Last year I took a very different approach and included my top resolutions as monthly reminders in my Gmail and iPhone calendars.  Well, this simple change made all the difference!  In addition to enrolling in a yoga class and partnering with public/private organizations on a homeless fundraising initiative, my list also included working with the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region - and here I am!  

The calendar approach might also help you improve emergency preparedness in your home.  Every year, the Red Cross responds to over 70,000 disasters in the U.S. so we know being prepared for the unexpected can save lives.  Try including simple preparedness resolutions as action items on your calendar right there next to learning a foreign language, traveling, or meditating through my - I mean your - child’s teenage mood swings!  Did I mention my 14 year-old daughter?

So let's get started! Below is a list of Red Cross emergency preparedness action items for inclusion on your digital organizers and mobile phone calendars. Be sure to take a look at the entire list and click on the links to start protecting your family and your homes today. Here's to a safe and happy 2014!

Click and prepare away! 

Prepare for a disaster by making a plan so you know what do in case of an emergency. 

Purchase of make an emergency kit for your home, office, and vehicles.

Change batteries in smoke alarms and review fire prevention tips since home fires account for the majority (over 93%) of disasters. Use this fire prevention checklist. 

Give blood at your local Red Cross donation site and help save a life. 

Download the Red Cross Mobile Apps for immediate access to help during an emergency.

Take a Red Cross class including First Aid, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator).  Help your family and community with lifesaving skills.

Register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website and stay in touch with loved ones during an emergency.

Volunteer with your local Red Cross and make a difference in your community.

Donate funds to help make an impact on lives.

Share this list!

For more information about emergency preparedness, volunteering with your local Red Cross, or giving blood, visit the Red Cross online. 

Giving on This Tuesday

#GivingTuesday

By Corey Welcher, Volunteer Contributor

This month kicks off the winter season for demonstrating good will towards our fellow man. We hear it in the marketing for holiday sales, in social media, on the news, in our places of worship, and schools. To many people, "giving" means to provide someone else with money, a helping hand, food, clothing, shoes, and so on. A virtuous thought, but making time to give can be difficult in the hustle and bustle of the season. Luckily, thanks to an idea called "Giving Tuesday," considering others is much easier and fun, too!

Today is Giving Tuesday, the second year for what is considered the National Philanthropy Day in the United States. On this exciting day, people like you, businesses, and organizations raise awareness for causes they believe in by donating money, organizing hands-on community events, and providing resources to help you stay in the spirit of giving throughout the year. Last year, over 2,500 businesses and organizations participated and so far there are at least 5,400 in the U.S. and across the world. The word is out - giving is IN.

I'm excited about this day and invite you to think about giving a little differently this year. Giving is not just about money. Money is tight for many people this year. If you're not able to contribute financially to a cause, contribute your time by spreading the word about your favorite cause. Get other people interested! This is a day to take time to give back to your community in a variety of ways. We will see positive changes in our community by taking just a little time to consider someone other than ourselves today. You can do it. Get out there and start giving!

Pick a cause: What cause is close to your heart?

Spread the word - tell your friends about a cause that matters to you.  Post some information and a website link on your social media networks. Talk about it at lunch, over coffee with friends, and at dinner with your family. Volunteer.

Check out the #GivingTuesday website, which has a lot of ideas and causes to get you thinking about how you can contribute to your community in a positive way.  Join the movement and happy giving!