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.