Holiday Mail for Heroes Program Gives Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families a "Touch of Home"

Now in its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program co-sponsored by the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes provides Americans with the opportunity to extend holiday greetings and thanks to service members and veterans.

Through December 7 the public is invited to send a “touch of home” through holiday cards that contain messages of cheer and appreciation. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals and family members during the holidays.

“It’s an honor for our community to help make the holidays special for American heroes,” said Ann Wright, CEO, American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina. “The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families by providing emergency communications, comfort and assistance each day. The Holiday Mail for Heroes program continues the Red Cross tradition of service to the armed forces.”

“The men and women who serve our country in uniform deserve our thanks every single day, and sending just one card is all it takes to make a difference in the life of one of our nation’s heroes,” said Jon Love, President of Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. “We are honored to participate in this important initiative again with the American Red Cross and look forward to helping the public say happy holidays and thank you.”

Please make sure the cards have a non-specific holiday greeting (instead of Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah) since there is no way of knowing to whom your card will be delivered. For reasons of processing and safety, participants are asked to refrain from sending “care packages,” monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards. Please bring your cards to your local American Red Cross office by December 7, or if you wish you may mail them to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Visit Redcross.org/holidaymail for a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices on the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Additional ways to become involved with the campaign include connecting with fellow card senders through Facebook at www.facebook.com/redcross and Twitter at www.twitter.com/redcross and #HMFH.

Visit upstateredcross.org to learn more about American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina Service to the Armed Forces.

We thank you for everything you do to support the American Red Cross of Upstate SC, now join us in thanking Service Members, Vets, and their families for all they do for all of us.


PS...
On a personal note, I was able to share the Holiday Mail for Heroes program with Girl Scout Troop 2452 this week. Most of the girls, ranging in age from 5 to 10, already are familiar with the Red Cross. They also, as it turns out, have an understanding of what it means to be a service member or veteran. Several mentioned their family members that are in the Service or have been. On one wall of the school's cafeteria is a painted world map, and pictures of service members related to the students were posted all over the wall to signify deployments.

The girls were excited to pick out different cards to personalize. The Tinker Bell cards were the most popular! Some of the youngest girls were only able to print their names and draw pictures, and some of the older girls made their own cards and personalized their messages. The Chipmunk's Christmas CD helped the festive mood. All of the cards are now full of drawings of snowmen and flags, wishes of good cheer and thanks.

Your local Red Cross office might have Holiday Heroes cards you can use, but if not many discount stores sells cards for $1 a box. You don't have to put the cards in envelopes, since the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will be sorting and packaging them for you. Just return your cards to your local Red Cross office by December 7 and we will do the rest.

I encourage all of you to take a few minutes to write out a greeting or two for a service member, vet, or their families. Take this opportunity to your Scout groups, church groups, board luncheons, or any other place you gather with friends this holiday season. Bring a "Touch of Home" to someone this December, and I promise you will feel just as good as the person who receives your heartfelt card.

THANKS!

Stories from the Front in American Samoa (DAY 1-3)

Snohomish County Chapter American Red Cross volunteer Tim Serban was deployed
to American Samoa Friday, October 2 as member of the National Red Cross Response
Team. Tim is the Director of Mission Integration and Spiritual Care with Providence
Regional Medical Center Everett and has been a volunteer with Red Cross since 1999.
His first volunteer training with the Red Cross was in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing.
Tim is thumb-typing these reports and sending them home using his I-pod mobile
device--when connections are available.
..............................................................................
DAY 1: Saturday 10/3/09
Action report briefing from military included warnings about tsunami
washing sand away uncovering many unexploded WWII ordinance, advising
volunteers to shut off cell phones immediately, mark the spot and call
the military EOD teams. Not expected and not grounded here in the
island.
We arrived via USAF C-17 "Spirit of Kamehameh" into American Samoa
after an 11 hour hold in Hawaii and a 5.5 hour flight. We came to our
shelter, an outdoor, covered gymnasium aptly named Ionnnes Paules II
(John Paul II) at 4 a.m. A quick rest and wake at 7 a.m. off to the HQ--a
tent with a warehouse and office that was created by welding two 40 ft
cargo containers together side by side.
Connected with Mental Health, Client Services and Partner Services
leads. Was informed about VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) meeting
at 1pm with Partner Services. Attended Partner Services meeting/call with
National VOAD. Local UCC (United Church of Christ) Pastor and key local leaders, 10
people including FEMA and DSHH Reps. Addressed need for emotional support of
those impacted. Plan to go out tomorrow to support men in grief with another MH
(Mental Health) ARC member. LBJ hospital to refer those who have been
hospitalized and released to us to follow, especially men and those
who have lost children for follow-up.
Also was able to check and confirm two local families living in high
impact areas were safe and well. They were families of staff from my
home hospital in Everett.
By the way I have connectivity in, where else, the only McDs (McDonalds) on the island
and primary source of sustenance for us.

..............................................................................
DAY 2: Sunday 10/4/09
Following a local invitation to attend Mass at Christ the King parish
it was truly moving as it was the community's first Sunday service since the earthquake
& tsunami.
Action items of the day. After teaming up with local Mental Health resources in
the community I went on to an area of Leone, A. Samoa. Being male
support people, we we're tasked with the job to attempt to reach out
to key men in the local community who have faced the greatest loss
ever, their children.
How, as a father would you face the grief of losing your children fleeing their school to
try to make it home? How would you handle the deep grief of not only losing your home
but also facing the reality that you could have lost your entire family and how do you
celebrate the fact that all survived except your little angel, your only daughter who was
just six years old? These were just some
of the realities we walked into today.
I can say one thing that really connects with kids is the fist bump and blow-up. If you
don't know what it is, ask your kids or grandkids. We met with a teacher of
preschoolers who is facing the reality of school starting tomorrow and
what to say or do to help them process the grief of who doesn't end
up showing up for school and the fear that those who didn't show may
not be ever coming back.
That will be our call tomorrow, as we have
been requested by local leaders to begin to meet with teachers and
helping them address their grief just before stepping into the
classroom.
Then there are us men. Two of us, another Northwest area Red Cross volunteer and
myself, the epitome of a grandfather and "younger" father who have found a
team approach in supporting men in grief and helping them know it's "for
their kids sake" and their own that they get help.
We are considering ways to connect leaders in the communities with
those who are in shock and trying to survive. Coming by this Friday
will be the work of two families to have the funerals of their
children, which means digging their own child's grave, all of which
are in the front yard of the family home. Then bringing family
together and hosting them in what would have been your home, but is
now uninhabitable and there are not many options for alternatives,
tradition, culture, honor, and history mandate that, for one to have honor
that they would do these things.
Call it part of the grief work, families with loss often are working tremendously hard and
they do have the love and support of amazing community family commitment. All will
surround them; the prayer of this community is a constant source of strength. They
welcome every bit of support and advice for
caring for their kids their children and themselves. The little we
provide is much when you have limited access to such support.
Today? One of those once in a lifetime over the top days that change
your life because you walk with people in places of loss and when we
leave we see a bit of hope and a child who with silent smiles wishing
you Tofa! (goodbye) with a fist bump-blow-up!

..............................................................................
DAY 3: Monday 10/5/09
Today began at 6 a.m. as we were requested to partner with Key DOH psych
leaders to start at two schools, one elementary academy and one
vocational high school. It (school) starts today and many emotions of the
teachers and students for the first day back.
300 students at an elementary school and one colleague covered this location;
I covered support to 400 students at the high school through the
morning. They had an assembly and I was the presenter on handling the
grief, stress and emotional aftershocks of a disaster. The students
were open, honest and asked deep questions. Many were personally
impacted and those who lost a family member came up to me directly to
process their grief.
Following the assembly at the high school I went back to the
elementary school and was invited into a 6 grade class who had lost
their classmate. They asked open questions about their fears, their
concerns and their hopes for the family of their lost classmate. They
decorated pictures and outlined the depth of this loss and how they
experienced the shock of the earthquake and tsunami.
They will be making a site visit with their classmates and teacher, to the site
where she (their classmate) was swept away and they will sing songs and leave flowers
in hopes that one day her body will be found. Such depth and incredible
honesty with what they need in order to grieve, is equivalent to adults.
The rest of the day was spent processing with teachers. Even the 5-
year-olds drew amazing pictures of their face after the tsunami and
bird's nest grief assessments. The faces: half were smiles and the
others were sad. When asked, the sad (faces) were Mad at the ocean and happy faces
were Happy that their homes were safe.
Still unpacking, next plan for coming day, possibly based at LBJ
hospital to assess support needed for families at the morgue
operations.
First priority, those in greatest need.

You never think it will happen to you...

When Rebecca was eight months pregnant, a fire broke out in her apartment. She and her husband lost everything—furniture, clothes, and the supplies they’d purchased for their new baby.

Rebecca’s local Red Cross chapter was there to help the couple pick up the pieces in time for their baby’s arrival—but only because supporters like you pitched in to make it possible.

“Red Cross was a tremendous help when we had only the clothes on our backs,” Rebecca says.“They were able to help us get clothes, toiletries, and even offered to help find us a place to stay while we got back on our feet.”

The need for funds is constant. Can you donate now, to keep your community safe and prepared and give help and hope to families like Rebecca’s when they’ve got nowhere else to turn?

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFO!

Sadly, Rebecca’s story is not uncommon. In fact, every eight minutes, a local Red Cross like ours responds to a house fire somewhere in the United States. And these fires are always devastating. But you can help a neighbor in need, like Rebecca, the next time disaster strikes, by making a donation to the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina.


Thank you so much for your help. By getting involved and supporting our work today, you can change a life, starting with your own.

DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER!
CLICK HERE!



(Source: Susan McCracken, Regional Board Chair (ARC of Upstate SC Region)

Red Cross Volunteers Share Life-Saving Information During Fire Safety Week

EASLEY, SC - [October 8, 2009] – Every day the American Red Cross shares life-saving disaster education with children, individuals and families in the communities we serve. In fact, we reach over 13,000 individuals each year with community disaster education here in Upstate South Carolina.

During Fire Safety Week, scores of Red Cross volunteers gave their time to help children and families prevent fires at events across Upstate South Carolina. They also shared important information on how to make a plan in case you do have a fire in your home.

Robin Edens, Linda Raines, Dawn Burns and Carol Wardlaw, all Red Cross volunteers, provided information and training to almost 1000 children and families that attended the Easley Fire Department Open House. In fact, Robin Edens premiered the Pumpkintown Pumpkin mascot for use at events promoting fire safety. The pumpkin even carries Robin’s old firewoman number on his helmet. To get the community even more involved, a local elementary school is holding a contest to name the new mascot. We’ll let you know when a name is chosen!






You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or going to www.redcross.org to make a secure online contribution. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on voluntary donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

St. Andrews UMC Donates Comfort Items to Local Disaster Clients

Pickens County, SC - St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Easley, South Carolina donated over 20 large comfort kits to the American Red Cross, Pickens County. These kits were full of comfort and hygienic items that individuals need after experiencing a disaster. Most of the time, the Red Cross provides these items when meeting with the clients at on scene at the time of the disaster. The kits contain soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, other hygiene items, washcloths and towels.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project!

We’ve already expended their generous donation due to the number of fires we’ve experienced in Pickens County during the past 2 months. If your organization would like to help, we really need new towels to supplement existing items we have in stock to make more kits. Please email Sarah Dow at DowS@usa.redcross.org or call her at 878-0131 if your group can help

The Red Cross in Action

October 8, 2009

Several disasters have devastated communities in the U.S. and around the world over recent weeks—a reminder that disasters can strike at any time and with any frequency. Even before the disasters hit, American Red Cross staff and volunteers were preparing. Today, here in the States, we are ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­providing people with a safe place to stay, a hot meal and a shoulder to lean on. Overseas, we are supporting our global Red Cross and Red Crescent partners as they work to meet the needs of earthquake, tsunami and typhoon survivors.

Our local, national and international work is made possible by the generous contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations. Their support of our Disaster Relief Fund and International Response Fund enables the American Red Cross to provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Current Disasters in the U.S.

The American Red Cross responds to disasters by providing immediate services like food, shelter and emotional support, in addition to bulk distribution of clean-up supplies, as well as individual casework to help people begin their road to recovery. In 2008 we responded to more than 130 large-scale disasters, providing more than 18 million meals, and opening more than 1,400 shelters—helping people when they need it the most. No matter when or where a hurricane, massive flood, earthquake or any other disaster strikes, the Red Cross is ready to respond immediately.

American Samoa Tsunami

• A powerul 8.0 magnitude Pacific Ocean earthquake spawned significant tsunami waves that swept ashore American Samoa on Sept. 29.
• Some coastal villages on the eastern and northern part of the island are destroyed, affecting thousands of residents.
• FEMA is reporting at least 32 deaths and many missing persons.
• Most of the communities affected are without water and power.
• Widespread damage to infrastructure is estimated to take more than 30 days to repair.

American Red Cross Response:

• More than 80 Red Cross disaster workers are currently on the ground in American Samoa. These disaster workers are trained to organize and help set up a local response, working with the over 100 local volunteers on the ground.
• FEMA and the Red Cross will be partnering to distribute food, water and supplies. More than 5,100 meals and snacks have been served in total. An additional shipment of culturally sensitive food arrived yesterday.
• Safe and Well is activated to facilitate communication between loved ones, hundreds of registrations have been collected so far.

Georgia and Tennessee Floods

• Severe storms beginning on Sept. 21 led to flooding in many counties near Atlanta and in the northern part of the state.
• There are numerous power outages, road closures, uninhabitable homes and school district closings.
• Media reports at least nine deaths caused by the flooding.
• Federal disaster declaration issued on Sept 24 for 17 counties: Bartow, Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cherokee, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Heard, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Stephens and Walker counties.

American Red Cross Response:

• Nearly 250 Red Cross disaster workers continue to operate shelters and provide relief items to emergency workers and affected residents. Simultaneously, the next phase of this operation has begun, including client casework and bulk distribution of clean-up supplies. In total, more than 800 Red Cross disaster workers supported these relief efforts.
• Shelter doors are open to welcome evacuees; as of Oct. 8th, the Red Cross has provided more than 3,700 overnight stays.
• Disaster workers in emergency response vehicles are delivering meals throughout affected communities and in shelters; as of Oct. 8th, the Red Cross has provided more than 109,000 meals and snacks.
• More than 7,800 clean-up and comfort kits were distributed to affected residents.

• As of Oct 8th, we estimate the cost for this relief effort to be $4–$4.4 million.

Current Disasters Overseas

When responding to a disaster overseas, the American Red Cross contributes to relief operations in three ways: deploying trained personnel; sending pre-positioned supplies from warehouses in Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Panama; and offering financial assistance. Last fiscal year, the American Red Cross responded to crises in 33 countries, working with our Red Cross and Red Crescent partners around the world to help an estimated five million people.

Southeast Asia Typhoons and Floods

• Typhoon Ketsana hit areas of the Philippines on Sept. 26 with heavy rains and flooding in the capital city of Manila and northern areas of the country. The UN reports 295 deaths and more than 3.9 million people affected.
• Ketsana hit central and northern Vietnam on Sept. 29. The Government of Vietnam reports 170 deaths and approximately 3 million people affected.
• In both countries, Ketsana has created the worst flooding experienced in some areas for more than 40 years.
• Cambodia and Laos have also been affected, with the Lao Red Cross reporting 16 dead and more than 37,000 affected in that country.
• Typhoon Parma also affected the Philippines in the days after Typhoon Ketsana.

American Red Cross Response:

• The American Red Cross has committed $500,000 to meet emergency needs generated by the typhoon in Philippines and Vietnam, and stands ready to provide additional support, should it be requested.
• The American Red Cross continues to monitor the situation and remains in communication with our Red Cross partners in the area.

Pacific Islands Tsunami

• The Sept. 29 earthquake off the shores of American Samoa caused a destructive tsunami wave that struck Samoa and the island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga.
• Reports indicate that the wave that hit in Apia, Samoa was more than 2 feet high.
• Smaller earthquakes continue in the area.
• An early warning message was issued, and Apia was evacuated by police and Red Cross volunteers in advance of the tsunami with people sent to higher ground inland.
• The UN confirms 129 people dead, and a state of disaster has been declared by the Samoan government.
• Samoa Red Cross reports that up to 15,000 people affected.
• The Tongan government declared a state of emergency for Niuatoputapu, with a population of 1,400, and nine confirmed deaths.

American Red Cross Response:

• American Red Cross International Services is providing $100,000 toward the International Federation’s appeal for Samoa.
• The American Red Cross is monitoring the situation and is prepared to mobilize additional support, including relief supplies, trained personnel or financial assistance, if necessary.

West Sumatra Indonesia Earthquakes

• On Sept. 30, just after 5 p.m. local time, an earthquake, measuring 7.6, shook shook the Indonesian island of Sumatra, setting off a destructive chain of events—buildings caught fire, homes collapsed, airports closed, and residents and tourists became trapped.
• A second quake, measuring 6.6 magnitude, struck October 8, but did less damage.
• The two earthquakes combined, left more than 1,100 dead and thousands more trapped. In Padang alone, at least 500 homes have been destroyed.
• Search and rescue efforts continue to recover those buried under the rubble.

American Red Cross Response:

• The American Red Cross has committed at least $500,000 to meet emergency needs created by the earthquakes.
• The American Red Cross is monitoring the situation and remains in communication with our Red Cross partners in the area.

How You Can Help

To Help Nationally, Make a Financial Gift to the Disaster Relief Fund -

Help people affected by disasters like the recent earthquakes and floods, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for disasters and provide shelter, food counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters. Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org/.

To Help Internationally, Make a Financial Gift to the International Response Fund – Help the victims of countless crises around the world each year, crises like the flooding and typhoons in Southeast Asia and the earthquakes in Indonesia, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org/.

To learn more about the work of American Red Cross in the U.S. and around the world, please visit

www.redcross.org.

Southern Comfort: East Side Baptist Church Donates Comfort Kits

Pickens County, SC - East Side Baptist Church in Liberty, South Carolina donated 15 large comfort kits to the American Red Cross, Pickens County. During the month of September, church members collected money to purchase the kits for their monthly mission project. The Red Cross gives the kits to individuals after they lose their home to a fire, flood or other disaster. They contain soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, other hygiene items, washcloths and towels. Thank you to the everyone who contributed to this project!

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This Fund enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disasters. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or going to www.redcross.org to make a secure online contribution. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may also be sent to your local American Red Cross or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on voluntary donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

The Red Cross Gets In The Red to Inspire Others In South Carolina: Baby Owen

A positive and uplifting story to help inspire others in our community to do their part in aiding those who are in need.

Courteousy of BabyPennington

You know, I’ve been a blood donor for as long as I have been legally able. When I gave blood for the first time at age 18, my motives weren’t quite as heroic as it sounds. It was a chance to get out of class and gain points for the USC vs. Clemson blood drive when I was in college . If you live anywhere near SC, you know giving blood for your SC Gamecocks to win against Clemson in ANYTHING is the least you can do! After that, I gave blood because I felt special. I have type O negative blood, and the Red Cross always called me when my 45 days between donations expired. They literally begged me to donate. Pretty selfish of me to actually think that I was special merely because I gave blood. The older I got, I began to realize that what I did made a difference. I began to feel that it was my duty to help out. In my naivety, I was proud of myself for donating blood. My hopes, back then, would be that one day if I needed blood, good karma would follow. Never in a million years, would I have ever expected that one day I would be at the mercy of other blood donors as my Mary Clare received multiple blood transfusions and received so many pints of blood during her hospital stints. My child, not myself. That certainly humbled me and brought me to my knees, literally. My youthful mind and immature ways of thinking often haunt me to this day.

I thank God for those that gave blood for my Mary Clare. Wouldn’t it be awesome to know exactly whose blood she received, so I could call them and thank them personally, although words would never begin to describe the gratitude I have.

All of this rambling about blood donations leads me to the article I mentioned previously. The mother is waiting on a heart for her son. She asks a bold question, “Why are people dying every day when perfectly good organs are being buried in the ground?” Good question. Her son is on a transplant wait list because he is in heart failure. His heart didn’t adjust well after his Fontan surgery, which is the exact same surgery that Mary Clare will have soon.

It is almost silly that everyone isn’t an organ donor. Thankfully, I have an outsider’s point of view. So many HLHS babies require heart transplants, and right now, Mary Clare is not one of those babies. Living with a half heart has it’s own downfalls, but she is overcoming those. I hope and pray that she’ll never need a transplant, but I’m not taking any chances. I’m an organ donor, and I would certainly give her my very own heart today if needed. I know that isn’t possible, but my hope is that if she ever needs a heart that somewhere, someone would feel the same way.

If you are not an organ donor, please go here. (There is even a USC vs. Clemson competition going on right now!)

…and if you need another reason, click on Owen’s button below. He is a sweet HLHS baby boy also waiting on a heart.

STATE FARM DONATES "GOOD NEIGHBEARS"

State Farm – Crosby Agency Donates Good Neighbears to local American Red Cross

EASLEY, SC - [September 21, 2009] - Everyday an average of 2 families in Upstate South Carolina lose their home to a fire. The American Red Cross is there providing food, shelter, clothing, life-sustaining medications, hygienic items, a shoulder to lean on and comfort items for children. “All comfort items for children impacted by a house fire or other disaster are donated by community partners,” states Sarah Dow, Director for the Pickens County Red Cross. Today, State Farm – Crosby Agency donated 100 cuddly bears, called “Good NeighBEARS”, to comfort children in the Easley/Pickens area after they lose their home, favorite comfort toy or blanket in a house fire. Sarah states that “it is amazing to see the joy in a small child’s eye after receiving such a simple gift. It truly provides them with some comfort during the crisis and perhaps a good memory of neighbors helping neighbors during their time of need for years to come.”

If your organization would like to partner with the American Red Cross to provide new items for local families that lose their home to a fire or other disaster, please contact Sarah Dow at DowS@usa.redcross.org or 878-0131.

Destructive chain of disasters - SE Asia victims need our help

Dear ARC Supporter,

As I write this, many lives have been lost and hundreds of thousands of people driven out of their homes by flooding in the Philippines and Vietnam in the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana. In addition, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake, and the resulting tsunami in Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa, destroyed entire villages and tore more lives apart. Two other massive earthquakes rattled Indonesia less than 24 hours apart, trapping thousands in their homes.

The American Red Cross, as a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, has been called on to help these communities in distress around the globe.

We’re one Red Cross, one compassionate community of people who care about our neighbors in need, whether they’re hurting down the street or on the other side of the world.

Can you help these disaster victims now by making a donation? Families need immediate support such as food, blankets, shelter and clean drinking water to stay healthy and recover.

http://american.redcross.org/site/R?i=-koiaHzsnVIFMcV5BNXEOQ..

• Typhoon Ketsana dropped a foot and a half of rain in just six hours in Manila, Philippines impacting 1.9 million people.
• 
  In Vietnam, in addition to precious lives lost, waters drowned cattle, flattened homes and destroyed thousands of acres of rice fields.
• 
  Up to 20 foot high tsunami waves came ashore on American Samoa after the earthquake in the South Pacific.
• 
  Two deadly earthquakes a day apart struck Indonesia, leaving thousands dead and even more homeless.

In response to these disasters, a network of thousands of Red Cross volunteers have mobilized to evacuate communities, carry out needs assessments and provide food, water, trained personnel and other relief assistance to the people affected by these disasters.

The American Red Cross is working with its Red Cross colleagues around the world to monitor the situation as the needs emerge and additional typhoons threaten.

Can you pitch in what you can now to help support our disaster relief work? You can choose the Disaster Relief Fund to support relief efforts in American Samoa or the International Response Fund to help in the Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia.

http://american.redcross.org/site/R?i=MfSLEOuSskrFBPpcDSe1XQ..

Our work is possible only because of the compassion and generosity of people like you. Thank you so much for your support. A gift of any size will mean the most to our global neighbors in such dire need now.

Sincerely,

David Meltzer

Senior Vice President

American Red Cross International Services

P.S. As these situations evolve, we will update you on the crucial relief work that donations like yours are helping provide. Also check RedCross.org for up-to-date information on these disasters.

Upstate Red Cross Marks 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Hugo

Hurricane Hugo hit Charleston, South Carolina on September 21, 1989 with winds up to 135 miles per hour. These winds, together with a storm surge (rapid rise in sea level produced when winds drive ocean waters ashore) of water about 17 feet high, wrecked buildings and marinas along more than 100 miles of coastline. Away from the coast, high winds and several tornadoes damaged buildings and downed trees and power lines. Due to the extreme intensity of Hurricane Hugo when it crossed the South Carolina coast – the storm roared through inland communities with unimaginable fury. Many residents of inland areas had not fled mobile homes for more substantial shelter, expected only dangerous conditions near the coast. Hugo marched through South Carolina killing scores of people, destroying property, leaving untold sorrow. Many who had fled the coast found themselves in frightening weather conditions while they waited in motels, shelters, and schools. Almost two-hundred miles inland Hugo still had 100-mph wind gusts. The major metropolitan area of charlotte, North Carolina suffered extensive damage. Thousands of large trees fell into homes and businesses around Charlotte and glass was shattered in downtown skyscrapers. Torrential rains in Virginia flooded roads and cut power to 2 million people. By late on September 22nd, Hugo finally died over the cool forest of southern Canada.


American Red Cross trained volunteers opened 438 shelters that housed over 93,000 people. One week after the storm over 56,000 people in South Carolina were left homeless. Red Cross served over 1,000,000 meals. Over 700 volunteers worked around the clock in South Carolina assisting hurricane victims with immediate needs such as food, clothing, shelter, bedding and other essential items of household furnishings as well as emergency medical supplies.


Ann Wright, CEO of the American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina was dispatched 3 days in advance of predicted landfall to North Charleston with a team of disaster volunteers and staff leaders to serve as the Director of the Charleston Hurricane District. She was there for the duration of the storm and some of the first to see the damage at first light. “It was a harrowing night as the eye passed over us in sheer darkness. We could hear trees breaking, winds howling, and class shattering for what seemed like days! Amazingly, some phone communications actually remained in tact until the very end of the storm” Ms. Wright said. “Many of our personnel and supplies were staging in Charlotte. Unfortunately, Hugo took a path inland and literally followed Interstate 85 and hit Charlotte with significant winds and rain. This delayed our support and supply arrival, so we had to get by with what little we had. It was very scary, yet a rewarding experience. People at their very best, and some at their very worst, in one of the darkest hours this country had ever seen up to that point. Not soon forgotten! My hope, said Ann Wright, is that no one will forget how important it is to respect these storms and their power. Being prepared and following evacuation orders are critical.”

The American Red Cross encourages every family to be Red Cross Ready in case of a hurricane or any disaster. It is important for you to be prepared for possible disasters and other emergencies. Natural or human-caused disasters can strike suddenly, at anytime and anywhere. There are three actions everyone can take that can help make a difference:

Get a kit
Make a Plan
Be informed

Join other members of your community through the American Red Cross in taking these first steps. You never know how many people your actions will affect, how many lives you might change. Contact your local American Red Cross today for more information on how you can be Red Cross Ready.

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Please follow the link below to view our previous blog and post concerning the ARC of Upstate South Carolina.

http://www.upstatescredcross.blogspot.com/

Thank You,

ARC of Upstate SC Staff