PA Heartland Chapter Red Cross Notes

The physical scars that Sunday’s tornado inflicted on Joplin, Mo., are everywhere you look—but it’s the ones you can’t see that are the most painful.

What was once unimaginable is now reality: homes destroyed, livelihoods lost, loved ones missing or gone. Workers from the American Red Cross know that people not only need supplies to keep up their physical well-being, such as food and water, but they also need emotional support.

Christine Stockwell is a Registered Nurse working in the Red Cross shelter in Joplin. Although her primary goal is to treat the injured, she recognizes the huge emotional component to this disaster.

“We don’t just have wounded bodies,” she said. “We have wounded spirits.”

“About every 15 minutes or so, we have someone who needs an arm around, needs to talk, needs to cry, and I try to walk around and be observant for those things,” Stockwell said.

Stockwell described the need for stability amid a situation that is far from normal. “We give them continuity… each day they have three meals; each day they have snacks available; we’ve set up TVs, play areas for the children—just to give them a sense of normalcy, if that’s possible.”

“But ministering to them in an emotional and psychological way is probably one of the biggest things that we do. We listen,” she added.

As workers like Stockwell continue to help residents staying in shelters, Red Cross emergency response vehicles are also out in Joplin neighborhoods distributing meals; comfort items, including toothbrushes and soap; cleanup supplies such as coolers, rakes, tarps, gloves and trash bags; and even stuffed animals for the kids.

Health services staff at emergency aid stations in Joplin are also assessing people’s health needs and helping with items such as lost prescriptions and eyeglasses.

Joplin was spared from additional storms on Wednesday, but a tornado did touch down in Sedalia, Mo., damaging an estimated 100 homes. The Red Cross opened a shelter in the city, and is sending a response vehicle into the area today to provide food and water to residents. Red Cross workers are also traveling through neighborhoods in Oklahoma to help those affected by Tuesday night’s tornadoes.  

This spring has brought destruction to a large swath of the country. Since March 31, the American Red Cross has launched 30 relief operations in 23 states to help people affected by tornadoes, floods and wildfires —

• Serving more than 2.1 million meals and snacks;
• Opening more than 220 shelters and providing 19,000 overnight stays;
• Providing more than 47,000 mental health and health consultations;
• Handing out more than 1.1 million relief items like toothbrushes and shampoo, tarps, coolers, rakes and other cleanup supplies; and
• Deploying more than 9,400 trained disaster relief workers from all 50 states.

How You Can Help

The Red Cross estimates that it will spend as much as $41 million responding to the disasters that have affected the country since March 31, and to date, about $33.6 million has been raised in donations for these responses.

Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS begin_of_the_skype_highlightingend_of_the_skype_highlighting; you can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

LOCAL NEWS

 The First Bash of Summer Carnival will be held at the DuBois City Memorial Park, June 1 thru June 4, 6 – 10 pm weeknights and 3 – ??? on Saturday.  Proceeds from the carnival support the American Red Cross.  Ride tickets are available at a discounted price at the Chapter office.  A community yard sale is also being planned for Saturday, June 4 from 9:30 am till dusk.  Contact the chapter office for more information.

Multiphasic blood screening will take place in Clearfield at the Clearfield Masonic Lodge near the Lock Haven Clearfield Campus on Saturday morning, June 4 from 6:30 to 9:30. Multiphasic Blood Profile requires 12 hours of fasting and cost $40. Additional tests available include Prostate Lab Test for Men for $25 and TSH(Thyroid) for $22.00. Appointments are limited so call the office as soon as possible.

 Red Cross Volunteers are needed to create teams in your community.  These volunteer teams will provide Red Cross disaster services in their communities. Teams will be trained for disaster operations and team captains will work with staff to ensure materials and training are available to volunteers. Volunteer teams will also be ambassadors for the American Red Cross in their communities.  Working with Chapter staff volunteers will represent the American Red Cross in local events and activities and may take part in community fundraising for the American Red Cross.  To find out more about become a Red Cross volunteer in your community, contact the PA Heartland Chapter today.

Watch for the American Red Cross at various community events throughout the four-county area this summer.  We look forward to meeting you!

Visit www.arcpaheartland.org to learn more about the PA Heartland Chapter or visit us on Facebook.

Health & Safety Classes  

Watch for a full schedule of community classes coming in the near future.

Visit www.redcross.org to see a complete schedule of classes in our area and register for classes or call 849-2712 in Brookville, 765-5516 in Clearfield, 371-2750 in DuBois, 834-2915 in St. Marys.

Blood Drives

Schedule is subject to change. Call 1-800-733-2767 to schedule appointments or visit the

e-donor site at www.redcrossblood.org. Call 1-866-236-3276 to ask questions about donating blood.

Red Cross is a United Way and United Fund Participating Agency and RSVP Station.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Support the American Red Cross! Checks may be sent to PA Heartland Chapter, 109 N Brady Street, Suite 2, DuBois, PA 15801, or 1100 S. Second St. Suite 2, Clearfield, Pa 16830, or 18 Western Ave, Brookville, Pa 15825, or 808 S Michael Road, St. Marys, PA 15857