NATIONAL NEWS
Thousands of people stayed in Red Cross shelters Friday night as floods in the Northeast continued to keep families from their homes. The vast majority were in Pennsylvania and New York, where remnants of Tropical Storm Lee flooded roads, damaged and destroyed homes, caused power outages and prompted the evacuation of nearly 100,000 residents earlier in the week.
On Friday night, approximately 1,200 residents stayed in nine Red Cross shelters in New York, and nearly 1,500 were in 35 Red Cross shelters in Pennsylvania. Shelters will be available as residents wait for waters to recede along the Susquehanna River.
In addition to opening shelters, the Red Cross is giving residents food, water and other critical relief supplies, and is ready to distribute cleanup supplies in affected neighborhoods as soon as the water recedes enough to do so.
Dozens of Red Cross mobile feeding vehicles have been mobilized for Pennsylvania and New York, as well as thousands of additional cots and blankets and cleanup supplies such as shovels, rakes, buckets and coolers. In addition, 80,000 ready-to-eat meals have been shipped to the two states, and the Red Cross is working with the National Association of Baptist Men to set up a kitchen that can serve 20,000 meals per day.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross remains hard at work in North Carolina, New Jersey and parts of New England, where Hurricane Irene destroyed thousands of homes at the end of August. The Red Cross is still providing food and shelter for hundreds of people affected by that storm and communities experiencing additional flooding.
Disaster relief also continues in Texas, where wildfires have burned nearly 1,400 homes so far. Nearly 300 people spent the night in six Red Cross shelters in Texas on Friday evening. The Red Cross is also providing food and water to people forced from their homes, as well as for emergency responders who are fighting the fires.
In less than a two-week period, the Red Cross has initiated multiple relief operations because of Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and the Texas wildfires. To date, the Red Cross has:
- Served more than 1.9 million meals and snacks
- Distributed more than 217,000 relief items, including cleanup supplies
- Deployed more than 8,000 Red Cross workers to affected areas
- Provided more than 28,000 mental health and health services consultations
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_highlighting end_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
Remembering and Motivating: During the last weekend, we were reminded of the terrible events of 9/11. Even after 10 years, we are moved by the services and events that marked the anniversary. But being moved emotionally, even to tears, is nothing if we are not also motivated to make our world a better place. You can start by volunteering with the American Red Cross. Volunteer opportunities exist in disaster services, blood services, community development, and office support. Contact the Chapter at 1-800-REDCROSS (733-2767) or info@arcpaheartland.org.
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.
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.
Visit www.arcpaheartland.org to learn more about the PA Heartland Chapter.
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 13 Brookville Presbyterian Church Brookville
Tuesday, September 20 Glad Tidings Church Clearfield
Tuesday, September 27 Chapter office DuBois
Tuesday, October 4 808 S Michael Rd St. Marys
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
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
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 12:30 pm – 6:30 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.
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.
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.
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.