Delivering help & hope: DAT volunteer plays Santa for family in need

“I always try to take it a little further if I can. Take that extra step.”

John Rudolph has taken on many roles as a volunteer with the American Red Cross of Western New York. Since joining in 2019, the former paramedic and volunteer firefighter has served as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) responder, a deputy director of operations during disaster response operations and now serves as regional program lead for the DAT team.

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Last December, after receiving a call for assistance following a home fire in Otsego County, he added one more to the list – Santa Claus.

Rudolph, along with his girlfriend Katie, have long played Santa and Mrs. Claus in an annual Christmas parade and also visit an area elementary school to meet with children ahead of the holiday. Halfway through the parade, Rudolph received a DAT call about a home fire that impacted a local family with two young children.

“Our goal with DAT is to respond within two hours of the request for assistance,” Rudolph explained. “So, we made arrangements to meet the family at a local McDonald’s immediately after the parade and initially, I had no idea that there were kids involved with the call. My beard was still dyed white and I still had my costume on. We were doing the intake, getting their information and you could tell they were just very affected by it. They were down and out knowing that Christmas was coming in a week and a half at that point.”

Every 8 minutes across the United States, DAT responders like John help to provide immediate emergency assistance to families in the wake of emergencies like home fires. Upon intake, families after often provided with blankets, comfort kits with hygiene items, and financial assistance to help provide temporary housing, food, clothing and more as needed. Specially trained Disaster Mental Health volunteers or Spiritual Care volunteers are also available to assist families in their recovery process while Red Cross casework team members help to connect families with resources to support them in the long-term recovery process.

But with Christmas just days away, Santa and fate stepped in.

“Each Christmas, my father asks us to donate to a give-a-tree instead of a gift for him. And I missed it.

This year, I was a day late donating. I’d gone to the local store, got a bunch of toys like jump ropes, glow-in-the-dark stars for kids’ ceilings and some toys that you figure would spread far and wide. I still had them in my car and so I grabbed them for the kids,” Rudolph said. “I asked if they wanted a photo with Santa, gave them the presents and both of them kind of lit up. They left spirits completely boosted up at that point. It wasn’t planned but it all came together that way.”

As for Rudolph, who called his volunteer role with DAT was a no-brainer, said playing Santa that day was just one of the many ways he and Red Cross volunteers like him deliver help and hope to those in some of their darkest moments.

“I really enjoy it. It feels good being able to do something like this, too. I’ve always heard of stories like that, but I always try to take it a little further if I can.”

Volunteers like John make up 90 percent of the American Red Cross workforce and embody its mission, making it possible for the Red Cross to help families in need every day. This National Volunteer Week, you're invited to put on a red vest to join the team. If you're interested in volunteering with John and the Disaster Action Team (DAT), or one of the many volunteer positions within the American Red Cross of Western New York visit our website.

Written by: Meg Rossman, Regional Communications Manager, American Red Cross of WNY

140+ years in the making: WNY'er delivering help & hope to U.S. military overseas

The mission of the American Red Cross was born on the battlefield, with founder Clara Barton delivering care and supplies to Civil War soldiers in need. Now, more than 140 years later, selfless individuals like Darla Roote are carrying on her mission.

“SAF was the first line of service in the American Red Cross. We are what started the Red Cross. The Red Cross was formed to help the military and service members in any way we can.”

Darla has served as a Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Program Specialist for the Western New York region since 2023, conducting outreach to service members, veterans and their families, putting together resource guides, attending and representing SAF at events across the region’s 27 counties, all while helping to manage casework and delivering messages for the Red Cross’ Hero Care Network worldwide.

“Hero Care Network is for family members who have an emergency at home and need to contact their service member,” she explained. “It’s been going on for 100 years. The other day, there was one for a service member in Abu Dhabi, or it could be for a unit at Fort Drum. It all depends on where that soldier or sailor or marine is stationed. It’s very important. I’ve used it myself when my father passed away so that I would be able to get emergency leave. So that’s me this year.”

This year, she takes on another facet of her role as Regional Program Specialist – a 6-month deployment to Poland.

“I’m excited, I can’t wait! I’ve been deployed a lot. I’ve been gone for 6 months at a time quite a bit. I mean with the COVID pandemic, I was gone for two years.”

Darla’s multiple deployments come with a lengthy career of military service going back 40 years. Out of high school, Darla was active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at Officer Candidate School in Quantico, VA.

“The one thing I like to say about that time frame is that was before women were allowed to shoot rifles!”

After four years of service, Darla left to start her family but not long after her daughter’s birth she would join the service again with the U.S. Navy Reserves where she would spend 18 years before spending another 16 years with the Air National Guard. She retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in August 2022.

“I love it. This job with SAF is almost the same thing. I still get to deploy; I still get to be on base with a bunch of military members and participating in that culture and so it makes being retired easier,” she laughed.

In her capacity with the Red Cross, Darla will be helping to support U.S. service members on three bases within Poland, while continuing to promote the work of the Hero Care Network.

“We do command briefings, telling the service members about the Hero Care Network and we do morale events. We partner with USO and MWR to do different events, we put together comfort kit items that we give out as needed.”

Now on the other side of military life, Darla says she’s looking forward to helping to serve the men and women who serve this country and providing some of the comforts of home that made her own service a little easier.

“They just got a kitchen where I’m going, so we may be able to do some birthday parties, pizza nights and barbecues. I just hope I can make their life easier while they’re there. I remember on some of my deployments being able to do a Fun-Run or having a barbecue – just things that broke up the week or month, something to look forward to. I’m hoping to provide something different every once in a while, even if it’s just sitting at a table with a puzzle on it. Just something to take their minds off where they are and what they’re doing.”

Written by: Meg Rossman, Regional Communications Manager, American Red Cross of WNY

"Take it from someone who has been there": Local blood drive host shares full circle moment

“Please give blood, you never know when you or one of yours will need it”. I’ve written those words many times over the past couple years in an effort to have people sign up for our Red Cross blood drive at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cohocton, NY. My time came on November 9, 2023 when I had a heart attack that required bypass surgery. One of the last things I had to do prior to going into surgery was to be tested and to sign off on accepting blood transfusion if needed. It was at this point I was so glad that the American Red Cross does those drives.

If you’re lucky enough to have crossed paths with Carl Drum, it’s likely you received the message above late last week. Despite a lifechanging heart attack last fall, the president of the congregation at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has been hard at work hoping to encourage others to roll up a sleeve in the midst of an ongoing blood shortage nationwide.

“I’ve always said on Facebook and anywhere that I contact people, ‘you never know when it might be you.’ And then all of a sudden, that happened. It was me. One of the last things I did in the pre-op room was sign papers saying that if I needed blood that I was willing to take your blood – actually, my blood!”

It was a full circle moment for Drum, who worked with the American Red Cross of Western New York to begin hosting regular blood drives at St. Paul’s two years ago.

“We’ve had some successful drives and we’ve had some that weren’t quite so successful,” Drum explained. “I’d previously given as frequently as I can until now. I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I needed blood or not during surgery, and I don’t care. I sincerely believe now more than ever, the life you might be saving through blood donation may be your own.”

Currently, the American Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. As a result, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by more than 40 percent due to challenges like winter weather, seasonal illnesses and the COVID-19 pandemic which made it difficult to reach blood donors with community drives like those hosted by St. Paul’s.

Up until November, Drum was a steady donor and received his One Gallon Donor pin this past summer. He is recovering well from the surgery and looking forward to celebrating another year of life on January 15, while encouraging others to share theirs.   

“Take it from someone who has been there. Never in a million years did I think I would be in a circumstance where it would be my turn. Well, it was my turn. You just never know.”

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church is scheduled to hold its next regularly scheduled blood drive on January 23. You can find a list of upcoming blood drives in your area by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app on your smartphone.

Winter Wonderland or Winter Disaster? Be Prepared with the Red Cross

 

Winter Wonderland or Winter Disaster? 

Fluffy white snow sparkling in the bright sunshine is perfect for the long-awaited outdoor adventures in the Northeastern winter. However, that much-anticipated adventure might turn into a dangerous situation with the combination of strong winds and snow flurries. If you have ever lost power, you know how “inconvenient” it can be for just an hour or two. However, if that power loss continues for 12 or 24 hours or even days - would you be prepared?

Immediate Precautions

If you hear the news broadcasting Winter Storm Warning or Blizzard Warning, take immediate precautions.  

Defining Weather Situations

When in Doubt, Don’t Go Out. The American Red Cross has defined the severity of weather systems:

·        Outlook:   Winter storm conditions may be in the 2–5-day forecast

·        Advisory:  Winter weather conditions are expected to cause significant inconvenience and may be hazardous. Using caution should avoid life-threatening situations.

·        Watch:     Winter storm conditions are possible within 36-48 hours. Review winter storm plans.

·        Warning:  Life-threatening severe winter conditions have begun or will begin in the next 24 hours. Take precautions immediately.

·        Wind Chill Temperature: This is how cold humans and animals feel when outside. Frostbite can occur rapidly.

Prepare for Emergencies

Preparedness kits will provide peace of mind during adverse weather emergencies.  The kits you put together for yourself would include water, food, medications, and other necessities for a 3-day supply per person. A kit for your car is important as well.  You can find more suggestions of supplies to include in your kits and additional tips here. 

Plans Before Emergencies

As winter approaches, a plan for emergencies will hopefully prevent any unfortunate events from occurring. Plans to care for not only yourself, but also, your family, pets, or neighbors who may need assistance. Include plans to ensure that your home is safe: flashlights, blankets, and water are available. Also, a plan is advised to evacuate to a safe location if your home is not safe during the storm. The Red Cross may set up emergency shelters.

The American Red Cross also has a FREE Emergency App that can
be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play which features weather alerts, more helpful tips like these and shelter locations in the event of a storm.

Written by: Ginny Scott, American Red Cross of WNY Communications Volunteer