10/30/09

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