Volunteerism: Above & Beyond

I spotted a whole box of bagels at the kitchen on Friday!

“Doug is here!” said by one staff member at the Central New York Chapter. The “anonymous” guy (at least he thinks he is) is Doug North, who was here at the Syracuse office attending a meeting for the launch of Sound the Alarm and he brought us bagels like he often does.

Today, I am going to introduce you to Doug North, our amazing volunteer. Last Wednesday, Doug was presented with the Volunteerism: Above & Beyond award from the United Way of Central New York, honoring his exemplary selfless service to members of the community. Doug became a Red Cross Volunteer with the Central New York Chapter on October 9, 2014. He is an outstanding Chapter Disaster Action Team Leader responsible for coordinating the efforts of his team as first responders on the scene of a local disaster. The team responds to disaster scenes, day or night, so they can provide emergency assistance to families who have been displaced due to fires, floods, etc. He and his team responded to 47 emergency calls in 2017.

Doug works full time, but he logged an amazing 2,066 disaster response on-call hours and an impressive 423 general hours volunteering in a variety of positions last year. In addition to Disaster Services, he works as a volunteer caseworker for the Service of the Armed Forces Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) team. Doug provided 20 briefings for 963 family members of new military recruits.

When Doug and his team respond to home fires, they meet with the impacted residents to determine their immediate needs. “They may have just lost everything and what we can do is to provide the financial assistance to provide them clothes, to book hotels for them, to help them get through the first few days,” said Doug. No matter what the need, Doug never hesitates to leave his bed, his home and his family to help strangers in their time of greatest need. His family says they don’t think he knows the words “no” or “can’t.” Doug is often on call, and he volunteered his time on Independence Day and Thanksgiving last year. It’s in his nature to help people in need. The question they often ask is, “What should I do now?” It may be 2 a.m., they’re in their pajamas watching their home burn and here comes the Red Cross to offer help and comfort.

When I asked Doug to give me some inspiring quotes so that we can pass on to people. He said, “I don’t know if I really have any inspiring quotes, but I know the Red Cross is helping people when they are lost. The power of the Red Cross is being able to coordinate with our partners and supporters to pass the kindness of people to those in need.” People like Doug, and other Red Cross volunteers build bridges to help in their lowest points.

Thank you, Doug for all you do for our community.

Cara Wang - Communications Intern

#SpringItOn2015

#SpringItOn: Buffalo Niagara’s Day of Giving is back!

In collaboration with United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, the American Red Cross is having a one-day, community-wide online fundraising event that will run from 8:00am Thursday, March 19 to 8:00am Friday, March 20! #SpringItOn was created to help non-profit organizations raise awareness about the work they do for the community and this year, more than 200 non-profits have signed up for it.

In the United States, the Red Cross responds to a disaster approximately every eight minutes. In November 2014, there was a massive snowstorm right here in Western New York. Our volunteers operated and supported 19 shelters and provided 6,700 meals and snacks for stranded travelers as well as people who were forced to leave homes that were struggling under the weight of seven feet of snow. Last year, over 400 house fires took away clothes and shoes, precious possessions, security and dignity- everything that made a house a home.

Help the Red Cross #GiveWhatFireTakes. Our goal for #SpringItOn2015 is $650 because that is the average cost needed to provide food, clothing and shelter for a family of three after a house fire. Our #SpringItOn site is up and running now. Please visit www.springiton.org/redcross and help us continue to provide for those in need when the unexpected happens, and share the link with friends and family on social media.

The need is constant. Click here to help us #GiveWhatFireTakes during #SpringItOn2015. 

-Valerie Ho, Western New York Chapter Intern

Arthur Moats, United Way and Red Cross Team Up to Help Local Fire Victims

Bills LB met recipients of gift at dinner Wednesday

Bills LB Arthur Moats with staffers from the Red Cross and
the United Way of Erie County at Red Cross HQ after
meeting the recipients of his generous donation Wednesday

BUFFALO, NY, May 1, 2013– Buffalo Bills linebacker Arthur Moats is helping a Buffalo family that is attempting to rebuild after losing everything in a fire last month. Through a generous donation Moats is providing toys for the children, computers for school, furniture and much more to help this family on the road to recovery. Moats and his family had the opportunity to meet the recipients of their generosity and personally deliver some of these gifts during a private dinner catered by One Eyed Jack’s in Lockport Wednesday evening at the Administrative Headquarters of the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties. Due to concerns regarding client confidentiality, the recipients of these gifts will remain anonymous.

“This family has been through so much the past few weeks, and it’s my honor to be able to help them get back on their feet,” Moats said. “I hope all of Western New York will join me in helping our neighbors in need by making a donation to the American Red Cross.”
The family has been receiving assistance from the American Red Cross since the fire in early April. Last year, a total of 1,046 people in Erie and Niagara Counties received food, clothing, shelter and support from the Red Cross following a fire or other disaster. All assistance is free, and the Red Cross relies on the generosity of the American public to provide these vital services in the community.

“We are so thankful that Arthur Moats has decided to help this family,” said Nancy Blaschak, Regional Executive Director of the American Red Cross.  “I hope this community will follow his example and make a donation to support us as we help the hundreds of other Western New York families who suffer a similar disaster each year.”

The American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties spends an average of just over $1,000 when responding to a single house fire affecting a family of four.  To make a financial donation to those affected by house fires and other disasters down the street, across the country, or around the world, please visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to charge a $10 donation to your cell phone bill.

Spring It On!

I think by this point in the year, pretty much all of us in Western New York are ready for spring. So what better way to get in the mood than to Spring It On!!

#SpringItOn (notice the Twitter-ready hashtag!!) is the United Way's Day of Giving in Erie and Niagara Counties. Over 180 area non-profit organizations are taking part in today's event, which is aimed at making everyone in WNY more aware of what these amazing organizations do for our community, and to encourage everyone to show their support.

All you have to do is visit fundraise.springiton.org/redcrossbuffaloniagara to make a donation. Then you can #SpringItOn--there's links to share our page and your support with your friends and family through Twitter and Facebook. And while you're there, take a little time to learn about the event and some of the other organizations taking part.

For us, it's quite the coincidence that the United Way chose March 1, which also happens to be the kickoff of Red Cross Month, complete with a proclamation from President Obama this morning, something every President has done for the past 70 years.

Meanwhile, here in WNY, we were provided with another reminder of why your support is so important to us, as our team was called to assist eight people following a fire on Patsy Lane in Depew this morning. This comes on the heels of a month in which we assisted 110 people in Erie in Niagara County following 21 separate fires. We're only able to provide a little hope to these neighbors who have lost everything in the blink of an eye thanks to your support. And if that's not a good enough reason to #SpringItOn, I don't know what is!!

Ryan Fitzpatrick, United Way and Red Cross Team Up to Help Local Disaster Victims This Holiday

Bills QB urges others to “Give Something that Means Something” this season

Photo courtesy buffalobills.com

BUFFALO, NY, December 21, 2012 – For a second consecutive year, Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is helping two area families that are attempting to rebuild after losing everything in separate fires this year feel at home for the holidays. Thanks to a generous donation through the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County, Fitzpatrick and his family have provided toys for the children, computers for school, furniture and much more to help these families on the road to recovery. The Fitzpatrick family had the opportunity to meet the recipients of their generosity and personally deliver some of the gifts during a private meeting Friday evening at the Administrative Headquarters of the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties. Due to concerns regarding client confidentiality, the recipients of these gifts will remain anonymous.

“These families have been through so much this year, losing everything in the blink of an eye,” Fitzpatrick said. “We hope these gifts help to lift their spirits, especially during this holiday season.”

The families have been receiving assistance from the American Red Cross since their respective disasters.  “A fire or other life-changing disaster can happen to anyone at anytime,” Fitzpatrick said. “If everyone who watches me play on Sundays joined my family in helping our neighbors in need by giving a gift to the Red Cross this holiday, it would make a huge difference for our neighbors in need throughout Western New York.”

Last year, 1,046 people in Erie and Niagara Counties received food, clothing, shelter and support from the Red Cross following a fire or other disaster. All assistance is free, and the Red Cross relies on the generosity of the American public to provide these vital services in the community.

The American Red Cross joins the Fitzpatrick family in encouraging Western New Yorkers to “Give Something That Means Something” this holiday season. The 2012 Holiday Giving Catalog includes a variety of symbolic gifts that support Red Cross programs. Donors can help vaccinate an entire village in a third world country, provide food and shelter to a disaster victim, help purchase items like phone cards and supplies for members of the Armed Forces or help supply basic necessities to families in desperate need across the world. Catalog purchases also come with greeting cards than can be sent to your friends and family when you make a donation in lieu of a gift and to show others your Red Cross support during the holidays. The purchase of each gift item is a tax-deductible contribution and provides support to the mission of the Red Cross.  Please visit http://www.redcross.org/gifts  to order your gift today.

“We are so thankful that Ryan Fitzpatrick and his family have chosen to help these families that were touched by disaster this year,” said Nancy Blaschak, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Serving Erie & Niagara Counties.  “The Red Cross helps people in need everywhere and every day, and financial donations are critical to allowing us to serve the Western New York community throughout the year.”