National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is April 18-24 and the American Red Cross of Western New York recognizes all of those volunteers who have continued to work tirelessly to help our neighbors in need during COVID-19.

In the Western New York region, more than 2,000 people volunteer with the Red Cross by responding to home fires and other disasters, supporting blood collections, providing emergency assistance to military families, and much more. These individuals are among the more than 300,000 volunteers who comprise more than 90% of the national Red Cross workforce.

“We are grateful for the dedication of our volunteers, whose support make a compassionate difference for our neighbors in need,” said Alan H. Turner, II, Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Western New York. “Their support during disasters and other emergencies has been more critical than ever, as families cope with increased anxiety and financial strains brought on by the pandemic.”

In the last year, American Red Cross of Western New York volunteers responded to 763 local disasters, providing relief to more than 3,800 people impacted by fire, floods and other emergencies; installed nearly 500 free smoke alarms making 1,775 homes safer; assisted more than 2,400 military families connecting them with critical services and support; trained more than 25,000 people in life-saving courses including CPR, First Aid, water safety and babysitting; collected more than 100,000 life-saving units of blood. 

The American Red Cross Western New York region is comprised of three chapters serving 26 counties – Western New York, Greater Rochester and the Southern Tier, as well as Clara Barton Chapter #1.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Become a Red Cross volunteer to help ensure families don’t face emergencies alone. Visit redcross.org/VolunteerToday to learn more, including about our most-needed volunteer positions.

• Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists: Blood donations are essential to the health of our communities, and blood donor ambassadors are a vital part of this work by welcoming visitors and taking their temperatures before entering Red Cross facilities and blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. We also have a high-priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.

• Disaster Action Team: Most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes are local home fires, which can destroy nearly everything a family owns in a matter of minutes. Partnering with local fire departments, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers connect with families by video or phone call to provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.

• Volunteer from home (virtual positions): Help from the comfort of your own home through a wide range of virtual opportunities, including blood services, fundraising and development, and more.

You can also make a lifesaving difference by making a financial donation at redcross.org and, if you’re healthy and feeling well, making an appointment to donate blood at RedCrossBlood.org. Those who come to give by April 30 will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five $1,000 e-gift cards to a merchant of choice. Additional details are available at rcblood.org/Gift. 

Volunteer Spotlight: Disaster Services Technology Lead John Hatch

In observation of National Volunteer Week, we are highlighting some of our extraordinary volunteers who serve our communities every day.

Today, communications volunteer Tim Snedden introduces us to Disaster Services Technology Lead John Hatch.

Picture a blood drive, and the equipment used to make it happen. Phlebotomists move around beds with confidence, carefully handling blood bags and needles. Packages of cookies crackle as they’re set down beside water bottles standing in neat formation. These days, American Red Cross volunteers screen donors with thermometers at the door, and masks make smiling with your eyes a necessity. All of these are crucial pieces of gear for any blood drive, but something’s missing from the list.

Any guesses?

How about computers? From completing your RapidPass on a tablet, to staff recording your questionnaire answers on a laptop, digital technology is critical for facilitating the mission of the Red Cross. Today we’re introducing you to John Hatch, Disaster Services Technology Lead. He’s the man behind the curtain, so to speak, managing the technological foundation of Western New York’s Red Cross activities.

John Hatch

Before joining the Red Cross, John worked for New York’s canal system. After retiring, he sought to give back to his community and began volunteering with his local Disaster Action Team (DAT). Suffice to say, he quickly became hooked, and entered into a Disaster Services Technology role soon after.

This new role came with a set of challenges that John met head-on. Maintaining existing equipment remains a constant necessity. At the same time, modernizing the Red Cross by replacing obsolete equipment is always important, although budget restrictions create a delicate balance that’s surely familiar to any IT professional.

It’s not all about the technology, either. John works with a batch of volunteers who help him with a variety of ongoing projects including a new phone system and device refreshes. “It’s important to keep volunteers involved by giving them meaningful tasks,” he says. It’s easy to tell that he’s very fond of his team.

Much like how a computer is an assembly of unique and important parts, John is proud of the collaborative efforts he’s been involved in with the Red Cross. In Buffalo this past January, a variety of volunteers came together for a joint blood drive and telethon. While part of the group hit the phones in one room, donors gave blood in the other. Communications volunteers wrangled a TV news spot and monetary donations and blood donation appointments flowed in. By all accounts it was a great collaborative success, facilitated by the technology that John and his team managed.

John’s focus has shifted since the COVID-19 outbreak, which has created an increased need for technology. In-person meetings are not recommended while we practice physical distancing, but face-to-face communication remains important. The solution? Ensuring DAT team members have the phones they need to video chat with their clients, ensuring vital support without physical contact. It can be hard to adjust, but given the right tools, volunteers are adapting to the new situation. If anything, the increased need for technology has helped to illustrate how important it is to almost every organization.

Unfortunately, the outbreak has kept John from his annual trip to the white sands of Myrtle

Beach. He shrugs it off, though: “It’s only delayed,” he told me, “and there’s always next year.”

Interested in helping the American Red Cross? Learn more about becoming a volunteer here or contact your local Red Cross chapter for more information.

Providing Customer Service as a Blood Services Volunteer

“I bring to my job, whatever I do, the customer service I learned at Wegmans,” says Red Cross volunteer, Sue Kirkland. “Treat customers the way I would hope they would treat me.”

Sue Kirkland and her canine companion Susie

After retiring from Wegmans in 2018, Kirkland immediately restarted an old habit that dated back to her high school days: donating blood every two months. While donating on February 6, she mentioned to one of the Red Cross team members that she’d be interested in becoming a volunteer as well.

“I came on board just in time for COVID!”, Kirkland said. She was scheduled to work in her initial role as a Blood Donor Ambassador at Kenmore West High School in Western New York the first day the Red Cross began requiring health screenings for staff and donors prior to entering a blood drive to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. She stepped in as Blood Drive Screener that day, asking health questions, taking temperatures and providing hand sanitizer for everyone as they entered the drive.

“Baptism by fire,” Kirkland says. “I just did it, then it became the norm.” Of course, there is very little normal about these uncertain times, and additional precautions have since been added to ensure the safety of everyone entering any Red Cross facility or community blood drive, including wearing face masks. Kirkland says everyone has been grateful for the safety measures the Red Cross has implemented, including herself.

“At one of the first drives, someone pointed out that I’m in a higher risk group being over 60, and asked if I felt comfortable,” she says. “I feel confident in what I’ve been doing to keep myself safe so that I can keep others safe.”

Kirkland also says she’s comfortable in knowing that the Red Cross staff, especially her supervisor, Aaron Wilson, will be there to support her if she ever does have a question or concern. She says the staff and her fellow volunteers have been phenomenal during this outbreak, and on the rare times during her 1-2 volunteer shifts a week when a team member or donor is having a bad day, her customer service background kicks in.

“We’re all feeling a little lost, isolated,” Kirkland says. “I keep in mind that people are coming out trying to help, so I’ll bend over backwards and try to meet them where they are.”

If you’re looking for a way to help, and get out of the house during this coronavirus outbreak, consider joining Sue Kirkland as a Blood Drive or Facilities Screener, asking health questions and taking temperatures with an infrared thermometer as people enter Red Cross facilities or blood drives. There are shifts available across the Western New York region, click this link for more information. And thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Sue, you can also safely make a donation appointment for the weeks ahead to ensure a stable blood supply throughout this pandemic at redcrossblood.org

Story by: Jay Bonafede, Chief Communications Officer

American Red Cross, Western New York Region

National Volunteer Week: Disaster Action Team Volunteer Anna Underhill

In observation of National Volunteer Week, we are highlighting some of our extraordinary volunteers who serve our communities every day. 

Today, communications volunteer Karin Schneider introduces us to Disaster Action Team member Anna Underhill. 

Anna Underhill

Anna Underhill, a woman in her 20s, found her way to the Disaster Action Team (DAT) during a blood platelet donation.  While at the donation center, she saw a local news story about a DAT response to a home fire. Anna felt drawn to the services DAT teams provide to people who are impacted by home fires - funds for immediate need items, lodging, and most importantly, emotional support, so she contacted her local Red Cross chapter in Ontario County to sign-up. 

Initially, she felt intimidated by the amount of training being a DAT member requires. However, since most of it was online, she was able to work on it around her schedule.  Once her formal training was complete, she went on responses as a trainee, being guided by her mentor, until she graduated to member status.   About 15 people are on DAT teams in Ontario, and if they are called to five fires during a month, it is a busy one, but DAT also helps the community in other ways.  For example, Anna and other DAT members install smoke alarms in homes and man a table at the local farmer's market once a month to provide information about disaster preparedness.

What makes Anna rare as a DAT member is her age.  Most DAT members are decades older than her, and I was curious about Anna's thoughts as to why more young people don't join DAT.  She said her peers do want to volunteer, but usually for one-time events.  She thinks the idea of a long-term volunteer commitment scares off some, and others are intimidated by the idea of helping others during a crisis.  I then asked how Anna made it work for her.  She said although her initial thought of helping people in crisis was a daunting one, the training and mentoring she received made her feel very prepared for the role.  Although the training is extensive, it is absolutely possible to do it around one's schedule.  House fires are unpredictable, of course, so she cannot schedule around those, but options are to respond when available, or pick a shift to be on call when she can make responses a priority (i.e. an overnight shift since she works during the day).

Regardless of age, the DAT members are a very committed group of volunteers, and the residents they serve during time of need can attest to the invaluable help that is provided both during and after a crisis. Yet, since home fires and other emergencies can happen to anyone, regardless to age, race and economic status, it can only make DAT stronger when the members are as diverse as the communities they serve.  In addition, having members at different stages of life provides reinforcement. For example, retirees can cover day responses younger working people cannot. In return, younger people can cover responses at night that older members may be hesitant to, and during times like now, when Matilda’s Law is in effect.  Fortunately for all, DAT is currently able to handle most responses virtually to conform to social distancing rules and protect the volunteers and neighbors they serve.

To learn more about what it means to be a DAT member, please contact your local Red Cross chapter, or you read more about it here. 

-Story by: Karin Schneider, American Red Cross Communications Volunteer

"Volunteering for the Red Cross has made me realize how lucky I am"

"I feel rewarded when I am able to teach people about fire safety," said David Roma as he told me why he became a Red Cross volunteer.

In the November 2014 Buffalo snow storm, David was out helping shoveling driveways for his neighbors. From this, he wished he could help people regularly. His daughter, Nicole, was a volunteer coordinator for the Western New York Chapter. So David went to her, and she helped set him up to be a Red Cross volunteer.

David Roma with fellow volunteer Shirley
Carnall during a Home Fire Campaign event
in the City of Buffalo

David remembers a specific time installing fire alarms for an elderly woman as part of the Home Fire Campaign. He and one other volunteer arrived at the house and found it was very run down. Windows were broken, there was no stove, barely any furniture, and no doors on rooms.  The elderly woman that called them to install fire alarms was the head of the house she housed her daughters and sons and their children, and David knew they simply installing smoke alarms made this family a little safer.

"When I see people like this it makes me realize how lucky I really am", said David.

If you're like David and enjoy helping people, you too can become an American Red Cross volunteer. Our volunteers have a range of opportunities when it comes to deciding what kind of volunteer you would want to be. It ranges from disaster relief to being a desk receptionist. Whatever kind of volunteer you want to be, you'll be helping the Red Cross to do their job to help provide comfort and hope to our neighbors in need.

~Emma Reeve, Communications Intern

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is April 10-17 and the American Red Cross, Western and Central New York Region, is honoring its volunteers who give their time to help people in need.

Nearly 330,000 volunteers serve the organization, helping staff blood drives, volunteering at veterans hospitals, teaching people lifesaving skills such as First Aid and CPR, responding to home fires in the middle of the night and so much more. Here in the Western and Central New York, 4,275 volunteers help the community.

“We want to take this time during Volunteer Week to thank our volunteers for their service,” said Rosie Taravella, Western and Central New York Regional CEO. “They help us fulfill our lifesaving mission every day, and we are overwhelmed with gratitude for their service.”

Last year, Western and Central New York Red Cross volunteers provided food, shelter, comfort and hope to 1,572 local families who faced emergency situations. They trained 86,708 people in lifesaving skills and provided 2,649 services to military members, veterans and their families.

The Red Cross invites the public to be a part of the lifesaving work it does and to sign up to volunteer and donate blood. People can go to redcross.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, people should visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign offers another way to volunteer and help reduce the number of home fire injuries and deaths locally. Volunteers are going door-to-door in neighborhoods at high risk for fires to install smoke alarms and teach people about home fire safety. Since the Home Fire Campaign started, it has been credited with saving a number of lives. Volunteers have already installed hundreds of thousands of smoke alarms in more than 4,100 cities and towns across the United States.

Volunteer - It Does a Mind and Body Good

This week officially marks “Volunteer Week” across the country. It is a week to not only appreciate those who do volunteer their time but also to try to recruit more volunteers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the end of September 2013, the rate of volunteers dropped 1.1% to 35.4% nationwide. What’s amazing is, according to www.volunteeringinamerica.gov, from 2010 – 2012, Rochester, NY ranked 2^nd as far as the most volunteers with 35.1% of the population volunteering.  Most of those volunteers were over the age of 55.

Volunteers make up more than 90% of the American Red Cross workforce. That is an incredible statistic. More than 90%! These extraordinary people give of their time to help others and carry out the Red Cross mission of “alleviating human suffering”. It really is a remarkable gift that these people give our organization and our community. They do so unselfishly and without complaint.

When I joined the American Red Cross, I got to see on my first day what it was like to be around these selfless and compassionate people. With little notice, as is the case with most disasters, they mobilized quickly and were standing ready to help their fellow citizens in need. It was something to behold seeing those faces, those bodies come together on a mission to be that glimmer of hope for those who needed it. It was a humbling and inspiring day for me.

With that being said, I would encourage everyone and anyone to volunteer and or donate to help those who do volunteer.  American Red Cross volunteers are the heart of this organization through their selflessness and giving spirit. Thank you volunteers for being an example for all of us.

Happy National Volunteer Week!

This won't be the first time we use this space to say "thank you" to our volunteers, nor will it be the last. But considering that this is National Volunteer Week, we wanted to take a little extra time to celebrate these amazing people who make the American Red Cross run.

Volunteers are crucial to the work of the Red Cross. Did you know that nationally, the Red Cross has an average of 15 volunteers for every one employee. These are the people who wake up in the middle of the night to provide food, clothing, shelter and comfort to the family whose house was destroyed by fire; who deploy to places like Binghamton, NY, Louisville, KY and Joplin, MO so that people affected by flooding, tornadoes, and other disasters nationwide have a place to turn; who help deliver life-altering information such as the birth of a child to our military members serving overseas (in fact, keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletter and the story of local volunteer Mike Hoplight's time in Afghanistan); who teach First Aid, CPR, swimming and other life-saving skills; who act as advocates for area seniors living in long-term care facilities; and who do so much more to make the Western New York community a better and safer place.

So to you, our Red Cross volunteers, we say thank you for being so generous with your time and talents. Share the attached badge with pride, knowing that because of you, people are able to turn to the Red Cross in their time of need.

If you've ever thought about being a part of the American Red Cross, what better time to get started than National Volunteer Week?? If you want to help us make a difference in this community, contact our volunteer coordinator, Christine Kukelka, at christine.kukelka@redcross.org or 878-2140 for more information on how you can become part of the celebration of National Volunteer Week 2013!

Are you volunteering?

Photo courtesy of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area



How better to celebrate National Volunteer Week then to become a volunteer?! Here at the American Red Cross, we have some amazing opportunities for our community members that want to get involved in the good work we do here in Erie County. 



Do you wish that you could be the one out helping families that have lost their homes after a fire? Become a member of the Disaster Action Team!

American Red Cross Emergency Services provides relief to people who have experienced natural and or man-made disasters. This unit is prepared at all times to provide food, clothing, shelter and medical care to disaster victims. All assistance is free and universal; disaster victims are not expected to pay the Red Cross for any services provided to them. Assistance to disaster victims includes:

·         Vouchers for food, clothing, and household goods

·         Temporary housing

·         Health services and referrals

·         Referrals to housing and other social service agencies

Most local disaster assistance is provided to victims of single family house fires. Our volunteer Disaster Action Team (DAT) is on-call 24/7 to provide disaster relief at a moment's notice. Other types of local disaster situations include:

·         Snowstorms, ice storms and power failures

·         Minor creek flooding and flooding of low lying areas around Lake Erie

·         Major explosions and chemical leaks

·         Train derailments

In addition to our traditional disaster services, the Red Cross offers several special programs. These include:

·         Energy Assistance Programs - Provides financial aid to those who are unable to cope with energy bills, including elderly over the age of 60, handicapped or disabled, and those experiencing medical emergencies. Funds for NYSEG’s “Project Share” and Niagara Mohawk’s “Care & Share” come through each utility’s customers, vendors and boards.

·         Information and Referral Programs - Provides general information regarding other local social services agencies. Information is provided by phone 24/7 or in person during normal business hours to those in need.

Disaster Preparedness: Training is now being offered. View our Disaster Training Calendar for more information.

Would you like to help keep Service Members and their families in touch during times of emergency? Become a Services to the Armed Forces volunteer!

Our Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) program facilitates communication between military personnel and their families during peace and war times. Using a worldwide emergency network, SAF assists in relaying important messages - the news of births and deaths, family illnesses and crisis situations - to loved ones all across the globe. 

When an emergency arises that requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, the Red Cross may provide access to an interest free loan or a grant for travel expenses. These funds are made available by the military aid society. 

For more information about SAF, please contact us at: 716.886.7500

Do you want to help keep seniors comfortable, safe, and well when they're in retirement homes, rehabilitation centers or assisted living centers? Become a Services to Seniors volunteer!

We have several programs within our Services to Seniors department which include, Ombudsman, Family Caregiving, Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP), I'm OK, Free Healthy Living Community Workshops, and Transportation that offer a continuum of services that improve the quality of life for seniors and those who care for them.

However you'd like to volunteer, we'll find a spot for you on our team.  Visit us online to learn more about all of the services that we offer to the community, call us here at the Chapter today to learn more, 716-886-7500, or visit our volunteer section on the right hand side of this page to see our current opportunities.