Spending Summer Break Helping

Brittney Valdez (l) and Sarah Ayala came to the #LockportFire
shelter at North park Junior High School looking to volunteer

Most college students are spending these last few days of summer break getting ready to return to school. Cornell University sophomore-to-be Brittney Valdez decided she wanted to spend her Thursday a little differently.

"If someone is in a crisis and I can offer comfort, that would be really awesome," said Valdez, a Lockport resident. Valdez and her friend Sarah Ayala came to the Red Cross shelter at North Park Junior High School, looking for ways to help those affected when a large tire fire forced eight surrounding blocks to evacuate.

"This is a small community," Valdez said. "It's devastating."

"I'm travelling from Texas," said Ayala, who met Valdez about six years ago when she also lived in the Lone Star State. "Maybe I was meant to help out. I can't explain it."

Sarah Ayala (l) and Brittney Valdez help Red Cross volunteers
inventory comfort kits at North Park Junior High School shelter
for #LockportFire evacuees

Ayala and Valdez started by helping volunteers inventory the comfort kits at the shelter. Those comfort kits were surrounded by other examples of the Lockport and Western New York community coming together to help their neighbors in need: Cases of water donated by Wegmans, Wal-Mart, Tops and Lockport residents.

"I think it's a test of character, the type of person who would volunteer," Ayala says. "No matter how bad my day has been, I still have a chance to help other people."

Red Cross volunteers will continue to support displaced residents and the firefighters and other first responders Friday, providing water, food and comfort. To learn more about how you can help people after fires and other disasters, please visit www.redcross.org. 

Intern at "The Party of the Summer!!"

If you're a college student looking for an internship this semester--or you know someone fitting that description--have we got an offer for you! Check it out, and take some time this weekend to send in your resume!

American Red Cross, Serving Erie and Niagara Counties
JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:           Development Internship

DEPARTMENT:   Development

DATE:                    January 2013

REPORTS TO:      Emily Shafer, Development Associate

MAIN FUNCTION:  The Development Intern will work with the Development Team to organize and execute various special events.  The intern will participate in all aspects of said special events including, but not limited to: silent and ticket auctions; gift processing; data entry; donor recognition; and event logistics.

                                                          

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This is past BASH intern Eliza on the right. Can you think
of another internship that looks like this much fun?
Neither can we!

1.       Work with Development Staff on gift                             procurement and processing

a.   Assist with solicitation process, including written and verbal requests

b.   Assist with auction item processing through Excel and Raiser’s Edge

c.   Assist in the implementation and execution of gift gathering parties and cultivation events

2.       Assist with event logistics

a.    Participate in logistics-based meetings with Red Cross personnel, representatives from In Any Event WNY and leadership volunteers

b.   Wrapping, packaging, organizing and labeling BASH auction items

c.    Event set-up and break down

3.        Other duties as assigned

a.    Able to work additional and non-traditional hours as needed

b.    Assist in organizing and coordinating auction pick-ups

c.    Adhere to the Donor Bill of Rights, Gift Acceptance Policy and uphold the highest ethics and confidentiality of donors and their relation to the Red Cross

                                           

QUALIFICATIONS:  A sophomore or junior college student with course work focused on: Communication Studies, Public Relations, Business Management, Marketing, Hospitality or other related fields.  Proficient in Word and Excel.  Strong written and verbal communication skills.  Good organizational ability and inter-personal skills. Must possess ability to manage projects in an efficient manner, with a focus on detail oriented work.  Must wear professional attire as identified by the American Red Cross dress code policy.  Reliable transportation required and the ability to stay on until June 14, 2013.

LENGTH OF APPOINTMENT:  February 2013 – June 2013

TIME COMMITMENT:  Minimum of thirteen (13) hours per week.

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES:  Develop fundraising, cultivation, stewardship and event-planning skills.  Learn to participate as a member of a revenue-generating team.

TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to emily.shafer@redcross.org with the subject line of Development Internship. 

Grand Slam anyone?

Did you know that the American Red Cross has clubs in colleges? Well they do! And tonight the Denny’s at 4610 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga will be donating 10% of all check sales between the hours of 4pm and 9pm to the College Clubs of Canisius and Daemen  to help offset the costs of attending a division-wide College Club Conference in Albany this April. 

What are College Clubs?

College Clubs are student run organizations that work in conjunction with a local American Red Cross Chapter in order to increase awareness of the American Red Cross in the community as well as educate the community on how to prepare for disasters.

What is the College Club Conference?

This is the first year that the American Red Cross has held a College Club Conference.  Our hope is that by educating students more in leadership and helping them connect with students across the division that it will increase their club’s longevity and sustainability to help the clubs continue to prosper and grow.

Want to learn more? Visit the Conference’s website, the College Club on Facebook or follow them on Twitter!

Interested in getting your College involved in the conference or starting up a club in your college? Contact Mary Walls at (716)878-2140 or at wallsma@usa.redcross.org.