NATIONAL NEWS
Red Cross Begins Large Relief Operation for Irene
More than 27,000 people spent Saturday night in shelters opened or supported by the American Red Cross as Hurricane Irene moved up the East Coast. The storm is shaping up to become a large flood relief operation and thousands of people across multiple states have already turned to the Red Cross for help.
“Our main focus right now is providing people with a safe place to stay and food to eat,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “There have been mandatory evacuations all along the East Coast and millions are without power because of this hurricane.”
While it is too early to know the full extent of the storm’s damage, the Red Cross expects to be helping people for the next several weeks.
The Red Cross has relief operations ongoing in more than a dozen states and thousands of disaster workers helping people from North Carolina to New England. Every Red Cross feeding truck east of the Rocky Mountains – more than 250 – are set to go into neighborhoods as soon as conditions permit. Tens of thousands of pre-packaged meals are in position, and the Red Cross is working with its community partners to have feeding kitchens in place after the storm moves through.
“This is a big response involving multiple states and the response will cost millions,” Shimanski said. If people would like to help, they can click or text to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions can also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or mailed to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Irene has already caused the cancellation of more than 50 blood drives, adding up to a loss of approximately 1,500 blood donations along the East Coast. Because each donation can be made into as many as three blood products, this translates to approximately 4,500 blood products not being available for patients who need them. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet height and weight requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height), and who are generally in good health may be eligible to donate blood. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or go to redcrossblood.org.
Those affected by the storm can let friends and family know where they are by registering on the Red Cross Safe and Well website at redcross.org. They can also call a family member or friend with internet access and ask them to do their registration.
LOCAL NEWS
Red Cross provides assistance in Clearfield Area.
The Red Cross assisted with a search and recovery effort in the Clearfield Area over the weekend providing food and drink for search volunteers.
Volunteers needed: Here is a list of upcoming events and activities in which we will need volunteers. Please call the chapter and let us know where you can help. As always, we can schedule your volunteer experience to fit your schedule and interests.
IUP Punxsutawney Health Fair
Wednesday, September 7, 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Brookville Health Fair-Jefferson Manor
Saturday, September 10, 8:00 am – Noon
Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk-DuBois City Park
Saturday, September 10, Noon-5:00 pm
Golf Tournament, Bavarian Hills Golf Course
Friday, September 16, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Bavarian Fall Fest, St. Marys
Friday, September 23, 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday, September 24, 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday, September 25, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Clearfield Revitalization Corporation-1st Annual Fall Festival
Saturday, October 8, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Follow us on Twitter @ARC_PAHeartland and Facebook at “ARC of the PA Heartland” Facebook Page.
Golf Tournament Benefits American Red Cross. The scramble golf tournament will be held at the Bavarian Hills Golf Course in St. Marys on Friday, September 16 with registration starting at 11 AM with teams teeing off at 1 PM. Lunch and dinner are included and there will be lots of games, prizes, and surprised throughout the day. Hole Sponsorships are available for local businesses and team registrations can be made by contacting the PA Heartland Chapter.
Beth Sawyer and Patti Micale pass out appreciation gift bags to area volunteers.
Volunteers from Jefferson County and the DuBois area met at Reynlow Park in Reynoldsville on Thursday, August 25 for a picnic. Forty-seven volunteers were able to meet the staff of the new PA Heartland Chapter, hear a report on the changes the Red Cross is undergoing, and reminded just how important they as volunteers are to the mission of the Red Cross.
As a volunteer organization, it is volunteers that make our services available in all our communities. Without volunteers in each community, providing services becomes more challenging and takes longer for volunteers from outside the community to respond. You can make a difference in your community by becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Contact the American Red Cross to find out more.
The PA Heartland Chapter is part of the Northwestern PA Region of the American Red Cross. With the Greater Erie County Chapter as the lead, the Corry, Warren County, Allegheny Region, ARC of McKean and Potter and the PA Heartland work together to ensure that Red Cross services are available in the most efficient and caring way possible.
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.
Disaster Services:
Volunteers from across the four counties continue to provide disaster services to those in need. In July, volunteers responded to three local disasters and provided food, shelter, and clothing to those in need.
Monthly disaster team meetings allow for volunteers to gather to discuss recent disaster responses, learn new disaster operation techniques or practice on current ones, find out about other Red Cross volunteer opportunities and network with other volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross disaster volunteer, you are invited to attend a Disaster team meeting in your area or contact the chapter office for more information. All meetings start at 6:00 PM.
Tuesday, September 6 808 S Michael Rd St. Marys
Tuesday, September 13 TBA Brookville
Tuesday, September 20 Glad Tidings Church Clearfield
Tuesday, September 27 Chapter office DuBois
Schedule is subject to change.
Blood Drives
The Red Cross has issued an appeal for blood donors of all types due to a critical blood shortage across our nation.
In May and June, donations were at the lowest level the Red Cross has seen in this timeframe in over a dozen years, while demand for blood products remained steady. Because of that, the Red Cross needs blood donors now more than ever. All types are needed, but especially O negative, which can be used to treat any patient.
We highly encourage all type O negative blood donors who meet the eligibility requirements to double the difference by becoming a double red cell donor. If eligible, you can give to give two donations at once.
Clearfield County Bloodmobile Schedule
Wednesday, Aug 31 Penn State Multipurpose Bldg DuBois 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 1 Best Western Conference Center DuBois 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, Sept 2 440 Front Street Clearfield Noon – 6:00 pm
Mahaffey Fire Hall Mahaffey Noon – 6:00 pm
Wal-Mart DuBois Noon – 6:00 pm
Monday, Sept 5 440 Front Street Clearfield 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Monday, Sept 12 Knights of Columbus Clearfield Noon – 6:00 pm
Friday, Sept 16 440 Front Street Clearfield Noon – 6:00 pm
Friday, Sept 30 St. Catherine’s Church DuBois 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
440 Front Street Clearfield N00n – 6:00 pm
Jefferson County Bloodmobile Schedule
Tuesday, Sept 6 War Memorial Big Run 12:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday, Sept 16 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Mary Catholic Church Sykesville Noon – 6:00 pm
Brookville Church of God Brookville Noon – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept 20 Brockwayville Depot Brockway Noon – 6:00 pm
Friday, Sept 23 First Church of God Punxsutawney Noon – 6:00 pm
Tuesday, Sept 27 American Legion Reynoldsville 1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Elk and Cameron Counties Bloodmobile Schedule
Tuesday, Sept 13 Fox Township Senior Center Kersey 2:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Wednesday, Sept 14 Moose Club St. Marys 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Thursday, Sept 15 American Legion Weedville 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Friday, Sept 16 Central Hose Company Ridgway 11:30 pm – 4:30 pm
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.
Health & Safety Classes
Evening classes run 6:00 pm till 9:30pm and daytime classes run 9:00 am till 3:30 pm unless otherwise noted.
Adult CPR/AED Tuesday, Sept. 6 (Night) Chapter Training room
Pediatric CPR Tuesday, Sept. 13 (Night) Chapter Training room
First Aid Tuesday, Sept. 20 (Night) Chapter Training room
Adult CPR/Infant Child CPR/AED/First Aid Saturday, Sept. 24 (Day) Chapter Training room
Schedule is subject to change.
Visit www.redcross.org to see a complete schedule of classes, pricing and to register for classes or call 1-800-REDCROSS. Pre-registration for community classes is required. Minimum registration requirements for classes will be followed. Options for on-line “Blended” classes are available.
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.
Contact the Chapter office at info@arcpaheartland.org or by calling 371-2750 or 1-800-REDCROSS (733-2767) opt 6.