"Sharing the Love of Saving a Life" with M&T Bank

"You can't put a price on someone's life," says Lashanna Walker from M&T Bank. "So if it's as little as making sure they have smoke detectors, and for free, that time invested is absolutely priceless."

Walker was one of four volunteers from M&T Bank who invested some of their time on Valentine's Day helping Sound the Alarm, joining Red Cross volunteers from the Western New York Chapter to install free smoke alarms for families while providing them with important fire safety information. Walker regularly volunteers with Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, but when WNY Chapter Board Chair Susan MacDonald presented this opportunity to her colleagues at M&T, Walker was eager to sign up.

"There was a fire right before Christmas Eve on Shirley Avenue. I have a girlfriend who lives on Shirley, and my heart dropped because I thought it was her house," Walker said. "I confirmed she was safe, but then I heard the story, two kids died in the fire plus an adult. It was so sad, literally a few streets over from where I live at. So when the email popped up about Sound the Alarm, I was like, absolutely. I want to make sure something like that doesn't happen again."

After some training over coffee and donuts this morning by Red Cross instructor Dennis Scott, Walker and fellow M&T Bank volunteers Vincent Gagliano, Scott Maciejewski, and Joan Polanowski joined Red Cross volunteers and visited 18 households in the Buffalo area. Together, they made those families safer by installing 43 free smoke alarms, helping them create escape plans, and teaching them about fire safety.

"The gentleman at the first house was worried because they didn't clean up or anything," Walker said of her first installation experience. "We just explained to them, we could care less about any of that, what we're doing is more important than if you have some clothes on the floor. We're here to put the smoke detectors in, save lives."

This was the beginning of what will be an ongoing partnership, as M&T Bank volunteers will be participating in Sound the Alarm installation events on a quarterly basis. Walker already has her calendar cleared for the next time.

"It's one of those where you may not see the immediate results, but you never know when this little effort and no matter how many hours were invested are going to pay off," Walker said. "It just made me feel good to know, on Valentine's day, we're out there sharing the love of saving a life."

If you'd like to help share that love by volunteering, making a donation to help keep Sound the Alarm free, or if you or someone you love needs working smoke alarms, visit www.soundthealarm.org/wcny for more information.

-Story and Photos by: Jay Bonafede, Regional Communications Officer

Red Cross Helping Five after Three SWNY Fires Friday

Volunteers from the American Red Cross, Western New York Chapter responded to three separate fires Friday, April 3, providing for the immediate emergency needs of five people. Red Cross assistance typically includes funding for temporary housing, food and clothing as needed. Disaster Mental Health volunteers are available to help the families deal with the emotional aspect of their disaster, and those affected will meet with caseworkers in the coming days to work on a longer-term recovery plan.

Volunteers responded to fires at the following locations Friday:

·         Fredonia: One adult
Volunteers Jason Carmen and Jeanie Shiffer

·         Hanover Road, Forestville: Two adults
Volunteers Jason Carmen and Mary Walker

·         Cattaraugus County: Two adults
Volunteers Bob Shook and Leah Vooys

The American Red Cross has launched an initiative to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25 percent over the next five years. The Red Cross is asking every household in America to take two simple steps: check their existing smoke alarms and practice fire drills at home. As part of the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, the Red Cross is joining with fire departments and community groups nationwide to install free smoke detectors in homes that need them. To schedule an installation, please contact PearlieMae Hargro at pearliemae.hargro@redcross.org or 716-878-2356.

To support home fire survivors across the country, the American Red Cross has launched a new social media campaign called #GiveWhatFireTakes. Donors nationwide have the opportunity to support Red Cross relief efforts. For every amount raised, the Red Cross is able to provide not only recovery items for home fire survivors, but also critical fire safety training and smoke alarm installations to help prevent deaths and injuries. Visit our Crowdwise campaign page, make a direct donation on redcross.org and share what moved you to join the campaign on social media with #GiveWhatFireTakes.

Dog Tag yourself into free BASH Tickets!

As you hopefully know by now, we are celebrating the 15th Anniversary of the BASH tomorrow evening. One of the great traditions of The BASH has been the "dog tag" (compliments of Tri-Metal Industries, Inc.) our guests receive each year. As you can see, The Colonel is quite proud of his collection:

Actually, these dog tags are from Thomas Latona, one of 
our Clement Trustees

So, how extensive is YOUR BASH dog tag collection? The first five people to tweet us @RedCrossBASH a picture of themselves with dog tags from five or more years of The BASH --or bring their collection to our 786 Delaware Avenue headquarters between 9am-5pm Friday--will win their choice of either a pair of General Admission tickets to #BASH2013 OR (if you already have tickets) a free BASH t-shirt. Good luck, and we'll see you here tomorrow night!

Get to work in a workshop!



Photo courtesy of the p2 Collaborative of WNY, inc.



Are you looking for a workshop to help deal with ongoing health conditions such as:

·         Diabetes  

·         High blood pressure

·         Anxiety

·         Arthritis

·         Chronic pain

·         COPD

·         Asthma

Well then continue reading to learn more about the P² Collaborative of Western New York, Inc. and the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter’s FREE Living Healthy workshops in Western New York!   

Our workshops are taught by specially-trained volunteer leaders -- some of whom have health conditions themselves – and cover new topics each week while providing participants with opportunities for interaction and group problem solving.   

Workshop participants will:

• Find better ways of dealing with pain and fatigue
• Discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy
• Learn the appropriate use of medications
• Improve nutrition
• Talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals
• Understand new treatment choices
• Feel better about life

Workshops will be held on Tuesdays from 4pm-6:30pm on the following days:

·         April 12

·         April 19

·         April 26

·         May 3

·         May 10

·         May 17

For more information, please call 716-878-2371.

Looking for a free Living Healthy workshop?

All of us are or know someone that is affected by an ongoing health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, arthritis, chronic pain and COPD.  However, there has never been much support in the community from others facing similar challenges.  That is no longer the case!

The P² Collaborative and Greater Buffalo Chapter are proud to now offer FREE Living Healthy workshops in Western New York.  

The workshops are taught by specially-trained volunteer leaders, some of whom have health conditions themselves, and cover new topics each week, providing opportunity for interaction and group problem-solving to help participants:

·         Find better ways of dealing with pain and fatigue

·         Discover easy exercises to help improve or maintain strength and energy

·         Learn the appropriate use of medications

·         Improve nutrition

·         Talk effectively with family, friends and health professionals

·         Understand new treatment choices

·         Feel better about life

The workshops are a 6-week long series and begin the week of January 17^th in locations throughout the WNY community.  For more information about the workshops or to find a series near you, please call 716-878-2371.