Fired Up for a Frozen Showdown

Wow! What an end to All Star Celebrity Apprentice. The last two contestants are standing and it’s Trace Adkins and Penn Jillette! Penn’s a great competitor, but we love Trace and the voice he’s given to disaster victims the last several weeks. All of us at the Red Cross are so proud of Trace and what he’s accomplished on behalf of our organization and all the people we serve. He’s represented the Red Cross with integrity and lots of heart and we’re cheering him on to the finish line.

We’re not just cheering him on, we’re ready to put our money where our mouth is-literally-and we hope you will too. This week’s task involved Trace and Penn developing custom ice cream flavors for the Walgreens Delish brand. Team Trace developed “Maple Macadamia Mash Up“, based on his favorite candy flavor-maple nut. (Team Trace also had to create a commercial for the ice cream, which featured Gary Busey busting a move because the ice cream is so good. I can’t wait to see the final product next week.)

If Trace’s flavor is the top seller this week, he’ll win an extra $100,000 for the Red Cross and disaster victims around the nation. That’s 10,000 meals for disaster victims or 20,000 blankets for people who stay in our shelters. That also means you don’t have to ask me twice to buy ice cream.

So get yourself down to a Walgreens or a Duane Reade store this week and pick up Maple Macadamia Mash Up. When you do, make sure you tweet some photos of yourself enjoying that creamy goodness. Not only will you help the Red Cross and propel Trace to the top of the boardroom, but you can also rest assured that, somewhere in America, Gary Busey is doing a happy dance. That should make everyone smile.

World Red Cross Day: From Switzerland to Michigan

Did you know May 8 is World Red Cross Day? It’s not the day the International Red Cross was founded, but it is the birthday of the man whose vision led to the creation of the worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. His name was Henry Dunant and he was a joint recipient of the very first  Nobel Peace Prize.

Henry Dunant

Henry Dunant was born in Geneva, Switzerland on May 8, 1828. The Red Cross idea was born 31 years later in 1859, when Dunant came upon the scene of a bloody battle in Solferino, Italy, between the armies of imperial Austria and the Franco-Sardinian alliance. Some 40,000 men lay dead or dying on the battlefield and the wounded were lacking medical attention.

Dunant organized local people to bind the soldiers’ wounds and to feed and comfort them. Once he returned to Switzerland, he called for the creation of national relief societies to assist those wounded in war, and pointed the way to the future Geneva Conventions.

“Would there not be some means, during a period of peace and calm, of forming relief societies whose object would be to have the wounded cared for in time of war by enthusiastic, devoted volunteers, fully qualified for the task?” he wrote.

The Red Cross was born in 1863 when five Geneva men, including Dunant, set up the International Committee for Relief to the Wounded, later to become the International Committee of the Red Cross. Its emblem was a red cross on a white background: the inverse of the Swiss flag.

Swiss Flag

Red Cross Flag

 The following year, 12 governments adopted the first Geneva Convention; a milestone in the history of humanity, offering care for the wounded, and defining medical services as “neutral” on the battlefield.

Clara Barton

During this same time, Clara Barton was risking her life to bring supplies and support to soldiers in the field during the Civil War (1861-1865). Like a few other women, Barton provided clothing and assorted foods and supplies to the sick and wounded soldiers. Barton prodded leaders in the government and the army until she was given passes to bring her voluntary services and medical supplies to the scenes of battle and field hospitals. Following the battle of Cedar Mountain in northern Virginia in August 1862, she appeared at a field hospital at midnight with a wagon-load of supplies drawn by a four-mule team. The surgeon on duty, overwhelmed by the human disaster surrounding him, wrote later, “I thought that night if heaven ever sent out an angel, she must be one—her assistance was so timely.” Thereafter she was known as the “Angel of the Battlefield.”

Barton visited Europe in search of rest in 1869, she was introduced to a wider field of service through the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. Subsequently, Barton read Henry Dunant’s book A Memory of Solferino. Later Barton would fight hard and successfully for the ratification of this treaty by the United States, which ratified it in 1882.

A more immediate call to action occurred in 1870 with the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War. Though not yet allied to the Red Cross, Barton knew the needs of victims of battle and went to the war zone with volunteers of the International Red Cross. To protect herself with the newly accepted international symbol of the Red Cross, she fashioned a cross out of red ribbon she was wearing. Barton helped distribute relief supplies to the destitute in France. She also opened workrooms to help the citizens of Strasbourg make new clothes.

Inspired by her experiences in Europe, Barton corresponded with Red Cross officials in Switzerland after her return to the United States.  In 1881, Barton and a group of supporters formed the American Association of the Red Cross as a District of Columbia corporation. The Geneva Convention treaty was signed shortly afterwards in the United States by President Chester Arthur.

The Red Cross flag flew officially for the first time in this country in 1881, when Barton issued a public appeal for funds and clothing to aid victims of a devastating forest fire in Michigan, dubbed as “The Great Thumb Fire.”

Today, the American Red Cross responds to a disaster every 8 minutes and is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network with 13 million volunteers in 180 countries.

Learn more about the Red Cross and its history at redcross.org.

 

STORY: Flooding in West Michigan

 

Water was everywhere in April 2013, when the Grand River overflowed its banks and surrounded homes, parks, and roads. Two Red Cross volunteers from the Detroit area learned of the disaster and immediately came to help.

John McGill and Evans Lucas drove an Emergency Response Vehicle through Grandville and stopped at several houses to see if people needed help. At one home, they found an elderly couple with water damage in the basement.

“They were worried about getting mold and mildew down there,” said Evans. “They said they called some carpet companies, but it would cost $300-$400 to get the carpet removed – something they couldn’t afford and they weren’t able to do it themselves.”

That’s when John stepped up and offered to rip the carpet up himself. John went to the basement after the couple said it was ok, and he pulled up all of the carpet. He then rolled it up, carried it up the stairs, and took it outside. The couple was so surprised at this Red Cross volunteer’s generosity, they could only cry.

Before leaving, Evans and John both got big hugs and a prayer from the couple.

But their day didn’t end there. The volunteers continued down the streets of Grandville offering help. One woman opened her garage door as John and Evans were walking up the driveway. She was startled to see two men approaching her house, but when she realized it was the Red Cross, she just started to cry.

“We’re with the Red Cross,” Evans said. “Do you need any help?”

The tears continued as the woman replied, “Thank you for asking.”

Another man found the Red Cross volunteers standing on his front porch and was amazed to see that the Red Cross came right to his house.

“We knock on their doors and people don’t expect that,” said John.

To learn more about the Red Cross and how to support its mission, visit redcross.org.

Collette’s Story

Northern Michigan Team collections staffer Collette Sparks of Boyne Falls never imagined she would be working for the American Red Cross. A horrific car crash in July 1991 completely changed that. Collette was 24-years old when her vehicle was hit head-on by a truck along US-131 near Petoskey. Not only was Collette’s 6-year-old daughter in the car with her at the time of the crash—she was also six months pregnant with her second child. When emergency crews arrived on the scene, Collette was completely pinned inside the vehicle and it took workers more than an hour using the ‘jaws of life’ to get her out. Her injuries were severe—she had suffered a broken collarbone and femur, her knee was completely crushed, and she was in-and-out of consciousness. Her 6 year old daughter Trista was also hurt, but not as badly. She had a broken arm, cuts and lacerations on her legs and had suffered internal bleeding. The unborn child Collette was carrying didn’t survive the accident.

Collette and Trista spent 9 days in the hospital recovering from their injuries. Collette was facing the possible amputation of her leg and required 13 units of blood during her hospital stay. Luckily, doctors were able to save her leg, however severe damage to her knee resulted in the removal of her kneecap. More than a year of physical therapy followed. This tragic experience made a huge impact on Collette and the person she would become.

“Growing up, I never thought about needing blood,” she said. “My father died from cancer when I was 18 years old and while he required a few blood transfusions during his treatment, the need for blood didn’t hit home until my accident.”

In 1995, Collette saw a sign advertising a blood drive in Mancelona and figured it was a good time to start donating.

“After my accident, I knew blood wasn’t something that could be manufactured. It felt really good knowing I could help save a life from just a little needle poke in the arm.”

That was six gallons ago.

Collette eventually went back to school to become a medical assistant. In December 2010 she was hired as a collections staff member for the American Red Cross-Northern Michigan Team.

“Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “I certainly wouldn’t have this job if it was for my accident nearly 20 years ago. I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I’ve truly come full-circle—from a blood recipient to drawing blood from other donors. I love my job.”

For more information on how you can make a difference through blood services, visit redcrossblood.org today!

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

Mary Poppins

 Fly off as a practically perfect nanny with style when you take the Red Cross Babysitter’s Training course. The American Red Cross is offering Babysitter’s Training courses during spring break for youth ages 11 to 15 years old to learn the knowledge and skills necessary to safely and responsibly care for children and infants. Grab your parrot umbrella, and start your babysitter’s business with Red Cross today.

Supernanny Jo Frost

1. Child Health and Safety  The famous Nanny Jo would agree that the first priority of any babysitter is the health and safety of the children. Parents need to have a high level of trust in the babysitter’s skills and abilities to be responsible for their little ones. The course teaches bascic health and safety, including First Aid. Be Red Cross ready!  

Mr. Mom

 2. Basic Care  Learning how to properly hold and feed a child are just two of the important basic care skills that Red Cross teaches.  And, of course, how to change a diaper! Being capable of caring for children of various ages will help build your resume and reputation in the school neighborhoods.

Nana from Disney’s Peter Pan

3. Health and Medications  Always talk to mom and dad about allergies, medications, and any other special needs the children may have on your first meeting. Also, ask for a list of emergency phone numbers with family doctors, close neighbors, or other family members. Emergencies can happen any time. Red Cross can help you be better prepared through the interactive course agenda, including practice crisis situations.  

Mrs. Doubtfire

 4. Have Fun!  As a babysitter, you have the chance to spend time discovering barrels of treasure on a pirate’s ship and attend the most magnificent royal ball just before teeth brushing time. Like Mrs. Doubtfire, enjoy your time with the children and make a positive influence on their lives.

Alice from the Brady Bunch

 5. Be a Role Model  Knowing how to better care for the young builds confidence to hold, feed, and care for infants and toddlers, work with children safely, and handle emergency situations. While babysitting, leadership becomes an imporant characteristic. Always use your manners and treat the household with respect. Call the parents if you have questions about rules, including dicipline and bed times.

The Babysitter’s Training course costs $85 and seating is limited. Students are encouraged to bring snacks and pack a lunch.

Someday, you could be a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious nanny! Babysitting is a business and a great first entrepreneurial step for students. Use the Red Cross course to create a richer resume, interviewing skills, and business model. Check out these statistics about wages, relations, and certifcations:  Babysitting Stats

For more information on available classes, visit redcross.org/babysitting or search Red Cross classes at redcross.org/take-a/class.

Take a look at our previous post on how to “sit” like a pro this spring break!

 

Thank You AmeriCorps Members!

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”  -Kahlil Gibran

Our West Michigan chapters would like to recognize the current AmeriCorps members and alums who chose to dedicate their time to Red Cross. The AmeriCorps program has led some wonderful people to our region!

“I’ve never known a more inspiring, committed, and innovative group of people than the AmeriCorps members that I had the pleasure to serve with during my term,” said Amanda Meldrum, AmeriCorps alum and current Grants & Stewardship Coordinator at American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids. 

“And as I work with members from each new term, I become more and more convinced that a year of giving back is something that everyone should experience.”

The American Red Cross is delighted to be one of the 15,000 nonprofit and community organizations that AmeriCorps members serve with. In West Michigan, the Red Cross utilizes the support of AmeriCorps members every day. We are so thankful for their committment and enthusiaism to support the Red Cross mission. They help serve in many different departments of the Red Cross organization, including disaster services, preparedness education, and volunteer services.

Check out this AmeriCorps recruitment video filmed with the help of our region’s current Together We Prepare  members serving at Red Cross!

 

 

Each year during AmeriCorps Week, the committment of the AmeriCorps members and alums is recognized by highlighting the extraordinary impact AmeriCorps makes across our nation every day. Since 1994, AmeriCorps has seen 800,000 individuals serve throughout the United States. 

To learn more about AmeriCorps visit, americorps.gov for more information.

You’re just a click away from making a difference

The Red Cross of West Michigan is looking for volunteers in the following areas:

• Blood Services
• Administration
• Volunteer Services
• Emergency/Disaster Services
• Transportation Services drivers
• Services to the Armed Forces
• International Services
• Health & Safety

We also have an urgent need for bilingual volunteers who speak both English and Spanish.

To learn more, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.