Come to World Refugee Day June 23, 2012!

Thursday, May 10-Each year, World Refugee Day offers Grand Rapids an opportunity to call attention to refugees affected by disasters, armed conflict and other situations of violence.

An estimated 11.4 million people have been forced to flee their home countries due to conflict or disaster.  As of January 2011, the U.S. identified 264,574 refugees residing within its borders.

In recognition of World Refugee Day, the American Red Cross of West Michigan recognizes the needs of local refugees and celebrates their contribution throughout the world.

World Refugee Day enables us to raise awareness of how the American Red Cross helps refugees who are separated from their loved ones and how other agencies assist refugees with their various services.

World Refugee Day

Arts and Food Festival

Saturday, June 23, 2012

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

First Place

207 Fulton St E
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

 www.facebook.com/WorldRefugeeDay

Free Admission.

Arts, crafts, and food available for sale from local vendors.

Are you a vendor that wants to participate? Want more information?

Contact Elyse Mathos

616-456-8661 x4501

Elyse.mathos@redcross.org

A Day in the Life of the Preparedness Education Intern

April 2, 2012-

by Janelle Steenstra

 

In the past couple of weeks, I have been working on spreading the Preparedness Education program into 3 other counties: Berrien, Ottawa, and Kalamazoo. What is Preparedness Education you might ask? Preparedness Education is a department geared at preparing the community to practice weather safety, fire safety, disaster preparedness, and health safety. Classes include Freddie the Fire Truck teaching students how to escape a burning building and Scrubby Bear teaching kids how to wash their hands properly (song included!). The American Red Cross of West Michigan offers these classes free of charge throughout four counties: Kent, Berrien, Ottawa, and Kalamazoo.

As a Preparedness Education Intern, I have been looking up every school in our four counties, looking up an email contact or calling for an email contact.  Preparedness Ed. wants to advertise effectively through email to different schools to broaden their spectrum.

It is cool how many positive responses I have received from many of the schools about the program. When I talk to someone at the school or in charge of the school district, I usually describe a little bit about the program. It feels like I speak a mile-a-minute for the first part of the conversation. I have had responses such as, “Oh that is so great! I would love it if we could have more information! We need to work on getting you guys in our school!” It was very comforting to get that response on my second or third call.  It gave me a little more motivation to keep going. Hopefully, the program can really branch out and reach more and more schools and kids soon.

Interested in volunteering at the American Red Cross? Want to be part of the Preparedness Ed. Team?

Contact the American Red Cross of West Michigan at 616-456-8661 or send an email to preparedness@ggr.redcross.org.

Red Cross Lessons I Learned by Watching Jersey Shore

Posted on March 18th, 2012 by Wendy Harman

I admit it. I know what a grenade is and I know how to do the dip. It’s not all in vain – the season 5 finale of Jersey Shore was inadvertently full of Red Cross lessons.

There’s a storm a brewing
The cast experiences a tornado warning – sirens and all – and demonstrates how  people who have never considered a preparedness plan react when faced with imminent danger. If anyone knows Snooki and the gang, please let them know we’ve got a simple plan and tips for them so they never get lightning in their hair.

MTV Shows

Storm A-Brewin’

Smoke Alarm
For the last “family dinner” the cast cooks a feast, starts a small stovetop fire, and sets off all the fire alarms in the house. They disassemble the fire alarms and later Pauly D uses them as a wake up call. Someone get these characters our cooking safety tips and please reinstall those smoke alarms.

Have any other Red Cross tips for Jersey Shore?

American’s Extraordinary Generosity Brings Red Cross Services to People Throughout the World

Donations from the American public have made it possible for the American Red Cross to bring relief to people around the globe for more than a century.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 — America is “the most sympathetic nation in the world,” a Tokyo illustrator said about the 1923 American Red Cross Japanese Earthquake Relief Fund. The effort raised nearly double its original goal, and helped people recover with food, clothing, medical goods, lumber and building supplies, a hospital and a large grant to the Japanese Emergency Relief Bureau.

In 2011, Americans helped Japan recover from another massive earthquake and tsunami. Families at evacuation centers received water, relief items and emotional support every day for months. The Red Cross equipped survivors with appliances for their temporary homes, repaired damaged medical facilities and provided special support programs for the elderly and children.

The Greatest Mother in the World

The American people have always looked to the Red Cross as the logical organization to carry out international relief efforts on their behalf.

When Midwestern farmers gathered carloads of grain to help starving Russians in 1892, they turned to the American Red Cross for distribution. In this first international relief program, the American Red Cross chartered a steamer loaded with food and medical supplies, and dispatched a staff member to direct the effort.

Since then the organization has been there to help those affected by natural and man made disasters. In the twentieth century, some referred to the American Red Cross as The Greatest Mother in the World. The accolade reflects the giving hearts of the American people.

November 2011, Haiti Earthquake Updates. Andre and Nelta Renatus, with their young daughter Andrica, are living in a new home built with Red Cross support in the community of Villambeta, near Port-au-Prince. Photo by: Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

The American Red Cross was in Europe, for example, before the United States entered both World War I and World War II, providing medical supplies, ambulances and food. And the Red Cross remained after both wars ended, helping millions of refugees and orphans with food, medical care and resettlement.

Today’s Global Impact

Last year, the American Red Cross worked with partners in the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network to assist 220 million vulnerable people in 76 countries.

In addition to the outpouring of support for the people of Japan, the American Red Cross responded to earthquakes and tsunamis in Indonesia and New Zealand. Millions of people affected by floods in Mexico, Namibia, Pakistan and other countries received food, supplies, health services and hope from the Red Cross.

In El Salvador, Vietnam, Turkey and 30 other nations, communities learned to prepare for a disaster and to help themselves and their neighbors should one occur. The American Red Cross helped reduce HIV transmission and improve the quality of life for people affected by HIV and AIDS through programs in Jamaica, Kazakhstan and a dozen more countries.

Since 2000, the American Red Cross and its Measles Initiative partners have helped vaccinate one billion children around the world. The goal of the initiative is to bring an end to measles worldwide.

The American Red Cross is in the second year of responding to the Haiti earthquake. Because of generous donors, dedicated volunteers and strong partners, more than three million people have been reached, and Haitian families have been able to leave camps and return to safe, healthy and vibrant communities.

Want to get involved? Visit your local American Red Cross website at www.arcwestmi.org or call us at 616-456-8661.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Why I Choose to Donate Blood

March 1, 2012-Posted by Allyssa Farris

For as long as I can remember, I have admired individuals that give blood on a regular basis. They donate an hour of their time, and in return, have the opportunity to save up to three lives with this pint of donated blood.

This is a sweet arrangement, and someone has to do it – just not me.

When we had blood drives in school, my friends would always encourage me to sign up to donate blood. I always felt bad saying no, but my demanding major, two jobs and family responsibilities accompanied with my fear of needles prevented me from giving back to the community in this way.

As my phobia of needles lessened with age, I reexamined my resistance to giving blood.  On December 29, 2011, I decided it was time to conquer this fear and donate blood. After story after story of people who benefited from blood donations, I decided it was my turn to donate one pint of blood and help save three lives.

Was it the story of Roxann whose baby had a chance to survive because of weekly blood transfusions?

Or Alejandra‘s story of her mother’s need for blood transfusions due to anemia and kidney failure? Or the dozens of stories of accidents where individuals would have died without blood transfusions? After hearing countless stories from www.redcrossblood.org, I realized the need for blood really is constant. I discovered that I could help my community in this way.

With the support of my friends, I donated blood for the first time at my place of work – the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids.  At first my anxiety did not waver, but I was determined to follow through with my donation. In the end, the blood donation process was much easier than I thought. I never even felt it, and afterwards I had a great feeling that I had potentially made a difference in someone’s life.

I encourage YOU to find a reason to donate blood and to keep your fears, anxieties, schedules or whatever it may be from stopping you. Knowing that I have helped make a difference in someone’s life is why I will donate blood for the second time this Friday, March 2 from 11:30-5:30pm tomorrow at the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids.

Now the question  is, who’s joining me?

 

Give Blood.

Friday, March 2nd

11:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

American Red Cross Chapter

1050 Fuller NE

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Call 616-456-8661 for more information. Walk-ins are welcome!

American Red Cross Helps Maintain Human Dignity in War

Posted on February 23rd, 2012 by Gloria Huang

2008. A distribution of food and emergency household items takes place in the Shegal district of Kunar province eastern Afghanistan, for 14,000 people displaced by violence in Bajaur Agency, which lies across the border in Pakistan. Photo Credit: ICRC

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Last week, I took a class on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) that was taught by my colleagues here at the American Red Cross. Although I was previously aware of the rules of war and the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), I left the class with a much better understanding of how these concepts have applied to real situations for over 150 years – ever since Henri Dunant was first inspired to start the Red Cross.

With the recent unrest in areas like Libya and Syria and increasing evidence that the younger generation doesn’t know much about the rules of war, it is critical that we do all that we can to educate others about IHL.

Two of the most common questions I’ve seen about IHL are “What purpose does humanitarian law and neutrality have in war?” and “How is it even possible to regulate war?”

When leaving the classroom, I took with me a simple concept that my instructor presented at the very beginning of the class:

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International Humanitarian Law attempts to maintain human dignity during armed conflict, preserving a chain of positive consequences that will help prepare for a return to peace.

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This very simple statement radically shifted the way I thought about war.

I am fortunate to have never lived in the midst of armed conflict. From my limited point of view, war seemed too violent and chaotic to regulate with rules- much less rules that tell you how to treat the opposing side. However, after considering the statement above, it dawned on me: war is a means to an end, and helps us plan for the long term by mitigating the parts of war that cause undue human suffering.

War takes a toll on all people involved – innocent or otherwise. Through the humanitarian work done by people who work under stressful wartime situations to help others who have suffered, positive effects on the community will lay the groundwork for a more peaceful time.

By preserving this basic humanity on both sides during armed conflict, and by serving all people involved with complete neutrality, the Red Cross can be a balancing force.

Alberto Cairo speaks on stage at the TEDxRC2 event in November 2011. Photo Credit: ICRC

During the recent TEDx Red Cross event in Geneva, an inspiring talk was given by Alberto Cairo, an International Red Cross worker who heads up their orthopedic rehabilitation work in Afghanistan. He talks about how an encounter with a disabled man looking for a chance to regain his dignity through hard work led him to keep his clinics open during periods of active fighting.

As Alberto put it,

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Dignity cannot wait for better times.

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It’s such a short, but powerful statement. When you consider the impact that people like Alberto can have on a community that has suffered from the effects of war, it’s hard to discount the worthiness of the humanitarian cause.

In another example, a recent Washington Post article writes about Abdul Hakim, an ICRC worker in Afghanistan who has the somber and unique task of retrieving the dead bodies of the Taliban and civilians from the Afghan and American authorities, so that they may be returned to their families and properly buried. Abdul operates as a trusted, neutral entity who does not take sides in the conflict; he merely does his job and helps his country deal with the repercussions of war.

Workers like Abdul Hakim can only do the work that they do by maintaining an impartial, neutral, and independent status that the Red Cross symbol affords them. After reading these stories of people who work to provide comfort, protect human dignity, and serve the individuals affected by war, it become much easier to understand just how crucial it is to have humanitarian laws in the first place.

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Although I am definitely not an expert in this area, these examples of the work being carried out by ICRC workers have taught me a lot about what life is like for those in war-torn areas. I feel convinced of the importance of IHL, but I also know that there is much more to learn. Will you join me?

Click on the links below to learn more about IHL and the courses available through the Red Cross:

• International humanitarian law: a universal code [VIDEO]
• In the heart of the action [VIDEO]
• American Red Cross – Exploring Humanitarian Law
• International Humanitarian Law – redcross.org
• ICRC – What We Do

To learn more about your local American Red Cross and its involvement with humanitarian law visit www.arcwestmi.org.

 

 

Blood Transfusions Help Sickle Cell Patients

Friday, February 17, 2012 —American Red Cross blood donators help sickle cell anemia patients in need of frequent blood transfusions.

Sickle cell anemia is a painful, inherited disease that can result in serious complications for those who suffer from it. More than 70,000 Americans have sickle cell disease, most of them of African descent. The American Red Cross encourages eligible blood donors of all backgrounds to schedule a donation to help build a blood supply which reflects the diversity in our communities.

Sickle cell disease occurs when someone’s body produces red blood cells that become shaped like a sickle under certain conditions, instead of the normal, round red blood cells. These blood cells are stiff and block small blood vessels, causing serious complications.

The only cure for sickle cell disease is a bone marrow transplant, but finding a compatible donor is exceptionally difficult. One of the treatments for individuals with this illness is frequent blood transfusions, perhaps as often as every few weeks. If these transfusions come from donors of the same ethnic background, there is less chance of complications after the patient receives blood.

Interested in Donating Blood? Give blood at the American Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, March 2. Drop-ins are welcome. Or Call 616-456-8661 for more information. American Red Cross Chapter/ 1050 Fuller Ave. Ne/Grand Rapids, MI/49503

Patients with diseases like sickle cell anemia depend on blood being available when they need it. If someone would like to give blood, they must be at least 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and be in general good health. Donors should bring their Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID with them. Many states allow 16-year-olds to give with parental consent.

Where Does Sickle Cell Disease Come From?

Sickle cell disease is inherited and passed from generation to generation. One out of every ten African Americans has the sickle cell trait, which means they inherited sickle hemoglobin from one parent and normal hemoglobin from the other parent. Having the trait alone does not mean the person will develop the disease. However, having the trait means the person is a sickle cell carrier and can pass the disease on to their children. If a child inherits a copy of the sickle gene from both parents, she or he will develop the disease. A simple blood test can determine if someone is a carrier of the trait, or if they have the disease.

Living With Sickle Cell Disease

Severe pain is the most common problem for people with sickle cell disease and often requires a stay in the hospital. The disease can also cause a stroke and abnormal pressure in the vessels of the lungs, which can lead to heart failure. Acute chest syndrome – chest pain, fever and trouble breathing – is another life-threatening complication of sickle cell disease. Because sickled cells can block the flow of blood and are low on oxygen, they can damage nerves and organs in the body, yet another possibly fatal complication. Other side effects of the disease are blindness, skin ulcers and gallstones.

Children with sickle cell disease may experience frequent infections, delayed growth, vision problems, swelling of the hands and feet, along with severe pain episodes and the risk of the other complications associated with the illness.

To schedule a donation time or get more information about giving blood, people can visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Preparedness is Sexy

Originally posted on February 10th, 2012 by Gail J McGovern

This week I had the opportunity to meet with several CEOs of large associations and talk with them about a number of topics, including the importance of preparedness.  I’ve found in my work that most people are more interested in the idea of emergency response, than emergency preparedness.  “Response” sounds sexy and exciting.  “Preparedness” sounds like homework and conjures up images of your mother telling you to eat your spinach.

But as I told the gathering of CEOs, preparedness can be sexy, and it certainly is impactful.

On March 11^th, we’ll mark the one-year anniversary of the horrible earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.  When I visited Japan not long after the disaster, I saw 350 miles of communities literally wiped off the face of the earth.  That disaster claimed more than 15,000 lives.  But there’s one fact that seems to get lost when we reflect on the Japan story:  Hundreds of thousands of Japanese heard the tsunami whistle and got to higher ground.  That simple preparedness measure saved their lives.

I think it’s a testament to our American optimism to think that nothing bad will happen to us in our country.  At various times in my career at AT&T and Fidelity investments, I’ve preached about the importance of back-up systems and preparing for retirement.  But since I’ve joined the American Red Cross, I’m more committed and determined than ever to help our country get prepared.  Research shows that only 12 percent of Americans are fully prepared for a disaster, and only 15 percent of those in communities like New Orleans—that know full well the impact of disasters—are prepared for another one to hit.

Since I’ve been at the Red Cross, there have been two employees who have had heart attacks on campus and their lives were saved because their co-workers had been trained in CPR.  Caterpillar, a very generous Red Cross donor, has opted in recent years to host CPR training at executive retreats, instead of the usual golf outing.  In the four years since they’ve been doing this, those executives have saved two lives because they were prepared with the right skills when someone needed help.

Preparedness is easy, and it saves lives.  And I happen to believe that knowing what to do when an emergency strikes is very important, empowering, and yes, sexy.

To learn more about your local American Red Cross of West Michigan and ways to be prepared for disasters visit www.arcwestmi.org.

Celebrating Contributions of African Americans to the American Red Cross

Black History Month has special meaning for Red Crossers. In fact, the Red Cross was instrumental in the beginning of Black History Month during the month of February.

A little background…

African American antislavery author and activist Frederick Douglass, like so many others born into slavery, grew up without knowledge of his actual birthday. Douglass adopted the birth date of February 14, 1817. In 1926, when Dr. Carter Woodson designated a special period of time to celebrate the heritage and accomplishments of African Americans, he chose February to honor the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. February was designated Black History Month in 1976.

Frederick Douglass, an acquaintance of Clara Barton, lent his support in 1882 to the Red Cross “Appeal to the American People” to raise money to assist victims of the Mississippi River floods.

Throughout our Red Cross history, African Americans have contributed significantly to the success of the organization. Each time we celebrate Black History month, we are also paying tribute to Dr. Charles Drew, Dr. Charles Orr and others who have been involved with the Red Cross.

Drew was the first medical director of the first American Red Cross blood bank and was instrumental in developing blood plasma processing and transfusion therapy, laying the foundation for modern day blood banking. The Charles Drew Institute, named in his honor, is the centerpiece of the Red Cross biomedical training system. Dr. Charles Orr established the Junior Red Cross and organized blood drives for African Americans as well as worked for five decades to ensure the equality of minorities within the Red Cross.

Additionally, Gail McGovern kicked-off a national Diversity & Respect Initiative a couple of months ago. According to Gail, “Diversity is not just the “right” thing to do—it is a business imperative in our rapidly changing national and interconnected world.” In additional to promoting Blood Drives in our African American communities during the month of February, the Diversity Value and Respect Initiative is focusing on workforce education, training and engagement programs. You all received a Diversity Pin. Where it with pride and commit to making a diversity difference.

 

For more information on the story of the contributions made by African Americans to the Red Cross, please visit this website for an exhibit entitled: “The Continuous Commitment: African Americans in the American Red: www.redcross.org/museum/exhibits/aaexhibit.asp

 

Red Cross Works with Partners to Deliver Meals, Supplies in Alabama

Friday, January 27, 2012 — The American Red Cross relief operation in Alabama continues in response to a series of tornadoes that hit the state earlier this week.

The Red Cross has shelters open in Alabama to offer those affected a safe place to stay, has served more than 6,600 hot meals and snacks and distributed more than 700 relief items. Red Cross disaster workers are traveling throughout the region to deliver hot meals prepared by Southern Baptist Convention volunteers, and will continue to distribute relief items over the coming days.

It is with the help of partners such as the Southern Baptist Convention and the NAACP that the Red Cross is able to reach people immediately after a disaster.

Just days after tornadoes tore through neighborhoods surrounding Birmingham, there’s nothing Steve Branch wants to be doing more than helping the Red Cross. Branch has unfortunately seen his share of disasters, most recently as the head of the NAACP’s disaster response following the Tuscaloosa tornado in 2011. Branch is again lending a hand as part of the partnership between the NAACP and the Red Cross, a partnership Branch values a great deal.

NAACP disaster liaison Steve Branch meets with Red Cross volunteer John Manners at the Red Cross Disaster Operations Center to map out a plan to help people in tornado-ravaged areas outside Birmingham, Ala., on January 26, 2012. Photo: Dave Schrader/American Red Cross.

“The NAACP and the Red Cross serve as a bridge,” Branch said. “They are a bridge to bring people together to help each other.”

Branch says that within 24 hours dozens of NAACP members from around Alabama will descend on Birmingham. In conjunction with the Red Cross, they will handle administrative and field work, including fanning out to the hardest hit areas to meet with residents. Branch says the volunteers will be organized by expertise and then assigned to help where the needs are greatest.

“First and foremost, we are here to help,” Branch said. “But we also want to enlighten and educate residents about the kind of assistance the Red Cross provides and how to get it.”

The partnership between the Red Cross and the NAACP is just one of many the Red Cross has formed over the years and which is being put to good use in Alabama.

The Southern Baptist Convention and the Red Cross are longtime partners and are once again working together to serve hundreds of meals to people who don’t have power or the means to cook their own meals.

After a disaster such as the tornadoes that hit Alabama this week, the Red Cross purchases the meal ingredients, the Southern Baptists prepare it in a makeshift kitchen set up outside one of the shelters, and then Red Cross volunteers load up the food in their vehicles and hand deliver the meals to people at their homes or in their neighborhoods.

Just like the Red Cross cannot do what it does without the generous support of donations from the public, it also cannot carry out its work without the many partnerships it has formed over the years. The Red Cross is continually forming new relationships, like the one it has with Steve Branch and the NAACP, so it can continue to respond to disasters quickly, effectively and efficiently.

To learn more about your local American Red Cross visit www.arcwestmi.org.

About the American Red Cross:
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.