Military Appreciation Month: Local Red Crosser bringing a piece of home to servicemembers overseas

The mission of the American Red Cross was born on the battlefield, with founder Clara Barton providing support to soldiers on Civil War battlefields. More than 140 years later, it’s a mission that the Red Cross proudly carries to this day through Service to the Armed Forces. The focus of that mission is to support military members, veterans and their families throughout all stages of their military career.

From helping to connect families with servicemembers during life’s emergencies through the Hero Care Network, to building care kits and connecting veterans and military families with critical resources here at home and providing support to veterans at our nation’s VA hospitals, the Red Cross is there. Red Crossers like Darla Roote are also stationed across the globe to help support U.S. servicemembers to bring help and hope (and a little bit of home) to those men and women stationed overseas.

As a Service to the Armed Forces Program Specialist for the Western New York region who retired in 2022 with 40 years of military service, Darla is currently on a six-month deployment helping to support U.S. military members stationed in Poland. Darla left in February for Poland to help bring a piece of home to nearly 1,200 men and women living on three U.S. military bases in Poland. This Military Appreciation Month, Darla gave an update on some of the connections she’s made so far, activities she has planned to help bring some levity to our troops and what she’s learned along the way.

Given your military experience, was there an adjustment period for you and how has your deployment gone so far?

The trip over was good. I made it and stepped right into it! My predecessor did a really good job with what she had and was building it up. Now, I’m building a space for one base, and I’ve almost got a space for another. That one really needs something as the only thing that have is an MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) and it’s also a tent base. At the moment, I don’t have transportation. I did all the training for the driver’s license and right now we’re working on an MOU with the USO because they have a Jeep, so I can use that to get between the three bases. It can be hard to get to some of those outlying areas.

What does a typical day look like for you?

In the morning and lunch, I sit with people at breakfast to chat and say ‘have a good day,’ just so they see me. While everyone is out working on their mission, I’m making flyers and planning events that I’m going to have. It’s mingling and planning events – most of them are on the weekend, because that’s when most of them are here. I do have some evening events, too. It really depends on the day and what they’re [soldiers] are doing, if they are out on a mission and many of them are it can change.

Talk about some of the events you’ve planned for those on base, and some upcoming projects you have planned.

Line dancing! Line dancing has gone really well! We’ve also got a murder mystery coming up. It’s cowboy themed, so it will fit in with the line dancing, but it’s murder mystery for up to 20 people. Hopefully, more come in and watch and they’ll mingle and relax.

We have a great volunteer with the line dancing and it’s really been building. More and more people are coming in and trying it and even though we are all screwing it up – it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great feeling because I’m giving them options. You don’t have to sit in your room. And with the new space open, those who want to sit some place quiet and read a book, they can do that, too. It’s not a huge space, but it’s quiet and they can relax. I even got blankets, because I don’t care if it’s 90 degrees out, if I sit down with a book, I want a blanket! 

We have sports and yoga on Sundays, we do a walking club on Saturday. We also have another paint and sip scheduled for this month, along with trivia and s’mores by the fire. We’re collaborating with the USO and MWR on a few events – we’ll have a big sports day for Armed Forces Day. Long-term, though, my priority is to help secure some spaces for the next person to get in and help to start them up. I’m also really pushing for a car [to help get between bases]. That’s pretty high on my priority list.

What have you taken away from this deployment with the Red Cross as someone who has also served in the military?

You know, these guys are great and they’re doing fairly good. There are some that are struggling just being away from home. They’re young – some are just 19-20 years old. When I first came, I thought it might be better if I didn’t broadcast that I had a military background because I didn’t necessarily want to say, ‘Hey, I’m just like you!’” I think that was a mistake. I think there were some who might have looked at me as a do-gooder, but not someone who has necessarily been in their shoes. So, I’ve been spreading the word that yes, I was in the military, and I have been in your shoes, and I get it.

May is Military Appreciation Month. What would you like readers to know about the service men and women you’re helping to support through your role with the Red Cross?

These guys are great. They are here for the mission they understand they’re here for the mission and when they’re tasked to do something – you don’t hear complaints. They are up and at ‘em. I was talking to one guy who said he had to leave at 3:45 am and he said, ‘it’s the way it goes.’ They’re very resilient in what they have to do and just keeping the busy is the thing we have to do. They’re a great group of kids.

You can learn more and help support military members, veterans and their families through Service to the Armed Forces this Military Appreciation Month and year-round here. 

A First Deployment, A New Experience for All

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the headlines, other emergencies don’t stop, and the American Red Cross remains focused on delivering our lifesaving mission each day. This was demonstrated in early June, when Tropical Storm Cristobal threatened the Gulf Coast of Texas. The Red Cross responded quickly with disaster volunteers from around the country, including three responders from Western New York.

Briana Freeman installing a smoke alarm
as part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign

Briana Freeman was one of these volunteer responders. Briana—or Brie as she is known to her colleagues—is a proud Rochester native and a Regional Preparedness Specialist at the West Henrietta office, close to home. A graduate of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, Brie has been with the Red Cross for 18 months, including a year serving the organization through AmeriCorps. Cristobal was her first national deployment, and it was a big step. “Being the first one, I probably overpacked a little bit,” she joked.

Brie’s deployment was a change from her regular Red Cross work, which involves working with and teaching alongside area partners to build community resiliency against disasters. Her primary focus is on programs involving citizen preparedness, home fire safety, and the Pillowcase Project for younger children. Brie loves interacting with so many different people of different ages and backgrounds in the community, and hearing their experiences. “I think that’s definitely the most fun part,” she said.

A major deployment to a tropical storm 1500 miles from home is a very different experience, however. Still, Brie jumped at the chance to help and arrived in Houston, Texas on June 5, along with volunteers from around the country. Thanks to COVID-19, however, this deployment was a new kind of experience for volunteers new and old.

When Brie first arrived for work at the local Red Cross headquarters, she had her temperature taken and was required to wear a mask at all times. Social distancing was required, so most of the interactions with her fellow volunteers had to be virtual rather than physical. “That definitely was different to what normally occurs,” she said. The restrictions made the volunteers’ task more challenging, especially in terms of communicating effectively with each other, but they quickly found ways to make it work.

Brie also saw first-hand how rapidly the Red Cross can respond to the changing situation on the ground. Two days into her deployment, when it seemed the storm might make landfall further east, many of the volunteers quickly relocated to Beaumont, Texas, near the Louisiana border. Working in operations, Brie helped facilitate this sudden redeployment. “It was literally done with a couple of hours’ notice,” she noted.

Fortunately, Cristobal’s impact in Texas was less severe than predicted, and the Red Cross did not need to open any shelters. Rather than just packing up and going home right away, the volunteers pivoted to turning the experience into a trial run for how to organize a major disaster deployment in the midst of COVID. “Even though we didn’t actually have to open up any shelters, we acted like we did, and used this as a learning experience because this is so different now from what we normally do,” Brie said.

The deployment also gave Brie an opportunity to work with some veteran volunteers, and she had nothing but good things to say about them. “Everyone was very welcoming,” she insisted, “and they want to do everything they can to teach you as much as possible, and that was such a high point for me.” Although Brie’s shift to operations required a steep learning curve, her two more experienced colleagues quickly took her under their wing. “Although I was only there five days, I felt like I learned easily two weeks to a month’s worth of stuff,” she said.

Having made it through her first deployment, Brie would happily do it all again. “It was a wonderful learning experience that has helped me grow into a better staff member, a better volunteer, and a better person,” she said.

The experience has also made Brie more confident than ever of the organization’s ability to keep doing its job effectively, even in the midst of a pandemic. “The Red Cross, no matter what, is sticking to our mission of helping people in all different situations,” she said, “and while we might be doing our mission a little differently just now, we’re still one hundred percent behind the mission.”

If you’d like to help the Red Cross deliver its lifesaving mission nationwide during this public health emergency, please donate at www.redcross.org. Right now, we have high priority need for volunteers that are willing to work in a shelter if the need arises during this hurricane/wildfire season. If you’d like to consider becoming a volunteer, you can start your journey by filling out an online application at www.redcross.org/volunteer.

Story by: Dougie Bicket, 

American Red Cross Communications Volunteer

21 Western and Central New York Volunteers Supporting Hurricane Florence Response

20,000+ people in more than 200 shelters overnight Thursday

BUFFALO, NY, Saturday, September 15, 2018 — 21 American Red Cross volunteers and two Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) from the Western and Central New York Region are deploying to support the response to Hurricane Florence (updates in bold):

NAME                                    HOMETOWN          ACTIVITY                 LOCATION

John Thomas Aldasch            Canastota                   Sheltering                   North Carolina

Pete Bonaccorso                        Fairport                         ERV Driver                   North Carolina

Donna Davis                       Burdett                     Gov Ops                    South Carolina

Michelle Fiermonte                Syracuse                     Sheltering                   North Carolina

Laurie Hagen                             West Seneca                  Sheltering                      North Carolina

Charlene Hanson                   Niagara Falls              Health Services          South Carolina

Chuck Haupt                       Owego                       Distribution            South Carolina

Thomas Lee Hough                East Syracuse             Sheltering                   North Carolina

Tom Margrave                    Cortland                   Spiritual Care         North Carolina

Diana McLaughlin                 Rochester                   Staff Services              South Carolina

Lewis Montemaggi                 Pittsford                      Sheltering                   North Carolina

Lorraine Morris                      Bath                            Customer Service       North Carolina

Donald Nelson                   Endwell                    Sheltering                South Carolina

Deborah Scherberger             Rochester                   Sheltering                   South Carolina

Christine Schutterop        Pittsford                   Sheltering                North Carolina

Steven Schwartz                Buffalo                      Staff Relations        South Carolina

Mark Sennett                         Fairport                       Sheltering                   South Carolina

Beverly Skinner                      Liverpool                    Health Services          South Carolina

Deb Thompson                          Lima                               ERV Driver                    North Carolina

Mary Jane Uttech              Marathon                 Health Services      North Carolina

Barbara Woodarek           Great Valley             Feeding                     South Carolina

In addition, four regional volunteers are supporting the response virtually: Lucille Frisicano of Webster, Sarah Perkins of Pittsford, Nancy Hall of Trumansburg, and Suganthi Roy of Rochester.

The American Red Cross is helping people in multiple states as Hurricane Florence pummels the Carolinas with strong winds, heavy rain and dangerous tidal surges. Twice the size of Louisiana, Florence is inundating communities and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

As Hurricane Florence comes ashore, the Red Cross is providing safe shelter and comfort for evacuees across six states. More than 20,000 people sought refuge in more than 200 Red Cross and community shelters Thursday night to escape the storm’s wrath. View some of their stories here.

As of midnight, 14,000 people were in 124 shelters in North Carolina, and 5,600 people in 59 shelters in South Carolina. An additional 430 people stayed in 23 shelters in Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee and Maryland.

About 2,000 Red Cross disaster workers from all over the country have been mobilized to help shelter, feed and support people affected by Florence. Working with partners, the Red Cross has served 47,000 meals and snacks in North Carolina and South Carolina. To bolster relief efforts, the Red Cross is mobilizing nearly 100 emergency response vehicles and more than 120 trailers of equipment and supplies, including 100,000 ready-to-eat meals and enough cots and blankets for more than 42,000 people.

Some evacuation centers may not have cots, food, running water or electricity; they are meant to safely house people for about 72 hours until the storm passes and weather conditions improve. If needed, local government officials may transition evacuation centers into emergency shelters if residents can’t return home after the storm passes. The Red Cross supports pre-landfall evacuation centers and post-landfall emergency shelters with trained workers, shelter supplies and other aid.

Since September 11, more than 2.5 million weather alerts have been sent through Red Cross apps to help people make lifesaving decisions.

HOW YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Help people affected by Hurricane Florence by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word FLORENCE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

The Red Cross honors donor intent. Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Florence relief efforts by choosing that option when donating on redcross.org or on 1-800-RED CROSS.

The best way to ensure your donation will go to a specific disaster is to write the specific disaster name in the memo line of a check. We also recommend completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with your check.

PLEASE GIVE BLOOD More than 140 blood drives have been canceled through early next week due to Hurricane Florence, resulting in over 4,200 uncollected blood and platelet donations. Eligible donors in unaffected areas are urged to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets to help maintain the nation’s blood supply. There is a critical need to platelet and type O blood donations. Appointments can be made by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Get tips on how to prepare and stay safe at redcross.org/hurricane.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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Three Regional Volunteers Deploying to Support South Carolina Flood Relief

22 Western and Central NY volunteers have been part of relief efforts

Sunday, October 18, 2015— As people in South Carolina continue to clean up after the recent devastating flooding, the American Red Cross is working alongside community partners to provide help and support throughout the affected communities.

Three additional Western and Central New York volunteers have or will be deploying to South Carolina this weekend, making a total of 22 Regional volunteers who are supporting the relief efforts. James Segerson of Rochester deployed on Saturday, while Lucille Frisicano of Webster traveled on Sunday. Both Frisicano and Segerson will be working in Health Services.

Jay Bonafede, a Tonawanda resident and Marion, NY native, will be deploying to South Carolina on Monday to volunteer in Public Affairs. 

More than 800 Red Cross workers and 45 response vehicles have been deployed to South Carolina to help. Many residents have been able to return home, but as many as 190 people spent Thursday night in four Red Cross and community shelters in South Carolina. The Red Cross is working with community partners to distribute meals and relief supplies both at central distribution sites and throughout affected communities. Items include comfort kits containing personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies such as tarps, flashlights, trash bags, shovels, rakes, bleach and work gloves, as well as hot meals. Since the flooding began, the Red Cross has distributed thousands of relief items and more than 100,000 meals and snacks.

Red Cross caseworkers are meeting one-on-one with people to create recovery plans, navigate paperwork and connect them with resources. In some situations, the Red Cross is providing direct financial support to people who need extra help. The Red Cross is also providing health and mental health services, offering comfort and helping to replace lost eyeglasses and medications. Recovering from a disaster takes time and the Red Cross will be on the ground helping residents in the weeks and months ahead as they get back on their feet.

The Red Cross relies on financial contributions to provide help and comfort to disaster victims anywhere, anytime. You can help people affected by disasters like floods, home fires and countless other crises by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

4th WCNY Volunteer Deploying to Washington for Wildfire Relief

American Red Cross volunteer Dominic DiGirolamo of Belmont will be deploying Saturday to Washington State to provide Disaster Mental Health services as part of the ongoing wildfire relief efforts. DiGirolamo becomes the fourth Western and Central New York Regional volunteer to deploy to assist in the wildfire response, joining John Craft of Penfield, Diana McLaughlin of Rochester and Donald Nelson, Jr. of Endwell.

The fires burning in the state of Washington are the largest in history, consuming about 600,000 acres so far. Red Cross workers have opened 12 shelters since the fires started, providing more than 750 overnight stays for evacuees. Many more people are visiting the shelters during the day for meals, to get information, or to charge mobile devices.

More than 100 Red Cross workers have provided more than 12,000 meals and snacks, including meals for U.S. military helping fight the fires. The Red Cross distributed hundreds of relief supplies and helped almost 400 people with health services such as replacing prescriptions and lost eyeglasses. Caseworkers are meeting with residents to provide assistance and access to other help.

The American Red Cross is also responding as Tropical Storm Erika heads for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, reaching Florida by Monday with 50 mph winds and several inches of rain.

On the U.S. Virgin Islands, 56 people spent Wednesday night in several Red Cross supported shelters as Erika neared the region. Red Cross workers in Puerto Rico are ready to respond, with relief supplies set to be distributed where needed. Weather experts expect little change in the storm’s strength as it nears Florida. Parts of the state could see heavy rain, strong winds and high waves along the Atlantic Ocean. Strong winds extend out as much as 105 miles from the center of the storm. The Red Cross across Florida is getting ready to respond as needed, with workers standing by, shelter sites identified and relief supplies ready to distribute.

In the Pacific, Hurricane Ignacio could come close to Hawaii as early as Monday. The storm is already carrying winds as strong as 85 mph and is forecast to get stronger over the next few days. The Red Cross already has supplies on Hawaii because of earlier storms and is watching the situation closely, ready to respond as needed.

HOW YOU CAN HELP People can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. We respond to nearly 70,000 other disasters every year, from home fires to hurricanes and more. Learn more about how Disaster Relief donations have helped people affected by previous disasters including home fires.

Meet John Dowd

Volunteer John Dowd of Auburn recently returned from Oklahoma, one of over a dozen Western and Central NY volunteers who have deployed in the past month to help in Red Cross relief efforts following severe weather across the country. The public affairs team in Oklahoma caught up with John on his last day with the operation:

John Dowd on assignment in Oklahoma

ARDMORE, OK June 19, 2015 -- Standing in the doorway of the Ardmore Red Cross office, John Dowd extends his hand and offers a warm welcome to fellow Red Crossers walking through the front door.

"Hello there, I'm John.  Nice to meet you. Welcome!" His blue eyes beaming sincerely smiling.

John is a caseworker for the Red Cross.

After Tropical Storm Bill, John accepted the opportunity to deploy.  Accepted the challenge of uprooting his life, putting his personal affairs on pause.  He accepted the challenge to help those suffering in Oklahoma.

One community impacted, Ardmore. He's responded and assisted families who were hit hard by the heavy rain the damaging flood waters.

Two weeks.

Fourteen days.

Today he's heading back.  Today he's going home to New York. Syracuse.

"I guess...I feel a connection with Oklahoma now.  I'm going to go home, but Oklahoma will always be with me.  We gave them a little hope I think," he said, removing his Red Cross hat as he wiped his brow.

"I'm looking forward to seeing my dog again," he continued, taking out his phone, flipping through photos of a delighted Beagle.

What makes the Red Cross one of the world's most prestigious non-profits is its ability to respond to disasters. Its ability to mobilize volunteers at a moment's notice.  John exemplifies that power -- a volunteer from New York responding to assist those suffering.

There are countless volunteers like John making a difference helping those impacted by disasters stand on their feet again.

For more on the Red Cross response to recent storms, visit http://www.redcross.org/news-events/news?tag=Severe+Weather+2015. To learn how you can help by becoming a Red Cross volunteer, visit http://www.redcross.org/ny/syracuse/volunteer

Volunteers Deploying to help in Flooding, Wildfire Relief Efforts

Two volunteers from the Western and Central New York Region are deploying this week to assist in American Red Cross relief efforts across the country.

Lorraine Morris of Bath, NY is deploying to Alaska Friday, where she will serve in Disaster Services Technology/Computer Operations in the response to recent wildfires. 

Herbert Wolfe of Rochester traveled to Louisiana Thursday to serve as Disaster Assessment Manager in the flood relief efforts. Wolfe will take teams into some of the hardest hit areas to assess the need and make sure relief is provided where it is needed most.

Lockport, NY's Diane Sargent in Oklahoma in May 2015

Across the country, relentless rain and raging wildfires have forced people from their homes, and the Red Cross is there providing support and comfort. Just this week alone, the Red Cross has helped people in 14 states affected by floods and wildfires.  Almost 250 people impacted by the flooding and fires spend Wednesday night in Red Cross shelters in Texas, Alaska, California, Arizona, Indiana and Idaho. Over the past few weeks, more than 2,790 trained Red Cross workers have served more than 590,000 meals and snacks, distributed 150,000 relief items and opened more than 85 shelters, providing 3,400 shelter stays.

HOW TO HELP A donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief can help provide food, water and shelter for someone who has to leave their home. Help people affected by disasters like floods, wildfires and other emergencies by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. To donate, people can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

DOWNLOAD THE EMERGENCY APP The Red Cross “Emergency” app can help keep you and your loved ones safe by putting vital information in your hand for more than 35 different severe weather and emergency alerts, including flooding and wildfires. You can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Seven Regional Volunteers Spending Holiday Serving in Storm Response Efforts

American Red Cross volunteers Lucille Frisicano of Webster and Diane Sargent of Lockport are deploying to Oklahoma Monday to assist in the Red Cross relief efforts following recent tornadoes and severe weather. Frisicano will serve as a Health Services Supervisor, while Sargent will be a Disaster Assessment Supervisor

Frisicano and Sargent become the sixth annd seventh volunteers from the Western and Central New York Region deployed to help in the Red Cross response to severe storms across the country:

NAME, HOMETOWN                   LOCATION               ACTIVITY

Lee Campfield, Apalachin                 Texas                          Feeding Supervisor

Tom Daley, Tonawanda                    Texas                          Client Casework

Lucille Frisicano, Webster                Oklahoma                   Health Services Supervisor

Greg Langen, Pittsford                      Texas                          Disaster Assessment

Donald Nelson, Endwell                   Texas                          Sheltering Supervisor

Sarah Perkins, Pittsford                    Texas                          Disaster Assessment
Diane Sargent, Lockport                   Oklahoma                  Disaster Assessment                  

The American Red Cross continues to help people affected by the ongoing severe weather, providing shelter, food and support as those impacted by the storms figure out what to do next.

 

Red Cross shelters are still open in Oklahoma and Texas. Red Cross workers have been providing shelter and food, cleaning supplies, health and mental health services, helping with damage assessment and meeting with families to help plan their next steps. Emergency response vehicles are traveling through the affected areas, bringing people food and relief supplies and Resource Centers are also open where people can come to be helped by multiple organizations. In the days and weeks ahead, the Red Cross will also provide health services and emotional support as residents begin to recover from the storms.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Nearly every second of every day, the Red Cross delivers help and hope. And we couldn’t be there without the generous support of the American public. On June 2, join the American Red Cross for our inaugural Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising campaign to support those in need in communities across the country. Together, let’s go “all in” and make one day count. Schedule your donation today for Giving Day at redcross.org/givingday. You can also help build awareness by using the hashtag #allin1day on Twitter and Facebook.

Jennifer's deployment story

Jennifer Schaefer

Jennifer Schaefer of Syracuse recently returned after spending a week in Oklahoma, volunteering with Health Services as part of the Red Cross response to recent severe weather. We asked the registered nurse, who volunteers regularly with the Greater Rochester Chapter, to share her experience. Even though she says, "I always hate when people ask what I do on a deployment. I usually forget exactly what I do, to be honest. It is just a blur of days, people, late nights and early mornings," she provided this first-hand account of just one day on a deployment.

Deployment Day Two - Oklahoma City Disaster Response Operation:

Oklahoma Tornado damage. Photo credit: Jennifer Schaefer

It is always hard to describe what I do when people ask. I hold people's hands while they cry about losing their homes, family heirlooms, pets and loved ones. I make sure that the elderly woman who has not eaten in two days because she is living in a home with no electricity or working gas gets a hot meal, a promise of more hot meals and the option of a safer place to stay. 

I talk to other volunteers. I genuinely want to get to know my fellow Red Cross friends, but being a nurse puts a twist on social interaction. Being a nurse on a deployment means every interaction is evaluated, every person's needs are checked. I ended up pulling a volunteer off the job today because he was trying to work his shift after having an eye exam that left his vision blurry. These volunteers never think about themselves, so it is my job to always ask and evaluate.
As a nurse, there is no "downtime." I am checking on my roommate as she shares about her day. I ask my waitress at breakfast how the storms have affected her life and community. I even self-check. I    make time to go to the gym or talk to my family. I give hugs, rides to fellow volunteers and advice. I say, "Thank You. Thank You. Thank You." 

Oklahoma Tornado damage. Photo credit: Jennifer Schaefer

It is hard to worry yourself, about your own problems, when you see the destroyed homes and children's toys broken and upturned. It is difficult to hold back the tears sometimes, but most of all it is difficult to not be grateful. I can see how lucky I truly am and that is what keeps me coming back.

I not only help others rebuild their lives but I rebuilt my own. I started volunteering after I lost two loved ones, a job and a relationship in a short period of time. I was lost and more depressed then I had ever been in my life. That was over a year and a half ago. Today, I have my dream job working with the New York State Department of Health. I get to help children be safer and healthier every day, and you know why I got the job?  The people I interviewed with valued my volunteer service. The American Red Cross turned my life around and helped me find my true calling in my darkest moments. So what else can I say but thank you...


No, Jennifer. Thank YOU for all you do for the Red Cross and the community. Welcome home!

If Jennifer's story has inspired you, click here to learn more about how you can become a Red Cross volunteer!

Two from Western & Central Red Cross Deploying to Help in Winter Storm Relief

UPDATED: A third Regional volunteer is also deploying to assist in the efforts

A third American Red Cross volunteer from the Western and Central New York Region is deploying to Boston, MA to help in the winter storm relief efforts. Diane Sargent of Lockport will be doing Disaster Assessment, going into affected areas to gauge where help is needed most.

Sargent joins Regional Disaster Program Officer Kenneth J. Turner of Buffalo, who will serve as Divisional Management Response Team (DMRT) Director, and volunteer Sarah Perkins of Pittsford, who will serve as Disaster Assessment Lead. All three recently served in leadership roles during the response to the Western New York Snowstorm in November 2014.

As people begin to dig out from the Northeast blizzard, the American Red Cross is helping, making sure people have food and a safe place to stay. The Red Cross opened or supported 24 shelters in Massachusetts, where more than 340 people spent Tuesday night in Red Cross and independent shelters. Red Cross workers also served more than 4,800 meals and snacks in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

While this storm did not affect Western & Central New York, the American Red Cross urges everyone to take this time to prepare themselves and their loved ones for disasters like winter storms. The Red Cross is partnering with New York State to offer free Citizen Preparedness Corps Training. A trained Red Cross representative will provide a comprehensive overview on how to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural and man-made disasters. A 15-minute online version of this program is also available at http://prepare.ny.gov/online-citizen-preparedness-training  (select Red Cross from the referral dropdown menu), or to schedule an in-person Citizen Preparedness Corps training, please contact Individual and Community Preparedness Specialist Veronica Chiesi Brown at 585-241-4405 or veronica.chiesibrown@redcross.org.

The Red Cross relies on financial contributions to provide help and comfort to disaster victims anywhere, anytime. You can help people affected by disasters like winter storms, home fires and countless other crises by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

Volunteers return to Ground Zero

"Ken Turner told me to rent a car and go," said Disaster Mental Health Volunteer Peggy McGee-Smith of her instructions from the Greater Buffalo Chapter's Emergency Services Director on September 11, 2001. "I think I got the last rental car. I never thought that planes wouldn't be flying, and the only other cars driving in were ambulances. We didn't think about it, we just went."

The 9/11 Memorial during a personal visit there in
December 2013

Smith, of Kenmore, hadn't been back to Ground Zero in New York City since serving in the initial Red Cross response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 until returning last month to support the opening of the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Smith was joined by Marjorie Beldue of Spencerport and Ferris Todd of Canandaigua as the Red Cross partnered with the 9/11 Foundation to offer on-site counseling and on-call assistance during the dedication.

"This is mainly for the family members, so it may be a very tough time for some," said McGee-Smith. "It's an honor for so many of us that were there to be asked to help. It's like it's coming full circle, a sense of completion."

What a Week (Plus)!!

To say it's been an exciting 12 days across the WNY/Finger Lakes Region, well, that would be an understatement!

It all started back on Saturday, April 26 with a Disaster Drill. Staff and volunteers opened shelters at five locations across Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee and Wyoming Counties, partnering with local governments and their medical support teams for the drill, which focused on serving those with functional needs together with the general population. Community volunteers acted as shelter residents during the exercise, helping responders practice live situations that could occur in an actual shelter.

Polisseni family members official cut the ribbon to unveil a
new blood bus along with Kay Schwartz and
Nancy Blaschak of the Red Cross (l)

Two days later, a new Traveling Donor Center was unveiled at the Blood Services building in Henrietta. Back in 2012, Greg Polisseni was invited to tour that facility after posting on Facebook that he was nervous about having received another person's blood during a life-saving transfusion. Greg was so impressed with what he saw, he helped convince the Polisseni Family Foundation to make a $250,000 donation that was used to purchase this new Bloodmobile, which will allow the Red Cross to collect thousands of additional units of lifesaving blood across the region every year.

This past Saturday was extremely busy. First, 103 youths between the ages of 11-15 became Red Cross Certified Babysitters during Babysitters Training Day. The Red Cross offers Babysitter's Training on a regular basis, but this unique event offered the course simultaneously-and at a discounted rate-at nine different locations across the Region. 

The Regional Disaster Drill team

I saw some of these teens get a head start on their babysitting careers while at the Greater Rochester Chapter for the Regional Disaster Drill, which was also held there on Saturday. Over 40 volunteers from across the Region came together to respond to a mock tornado in the village of Savona. The live-action, table-top exercise included every activity that would be part of an actual Red Cross response, and it was great to see everyone come together and hone their skills in order to be better prepared to help this community should an actual disaster take place.

Jennifer Schaefer prepared to deploy
to Alabama

During Saturday's drill, Jennifer Schaefer became the ninth local volunteer to deploy to help in actual disaster responses taking place right now in places like Florida, Alabama and Arkansas that have been devastated by recent flooding and tornadoes.

Of course, all of this work is only possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. Monday, we launched a new tradition in Rochester--the Casting for Caring women's event. Dozens of amazing women hit the water at the Rochester Yacht Club to try and catch the big one, then tried reel in some great auction items during an evening reception. The next day was the men's turn, as they competed during the 21st Casting for Caring event, which over the two days raised tens of thousands of dollars to support Red Cross services.

Roberta Van Winkle reels one in during the inaugural
Casting for Caring Women's event

All of this took place as we continued to help our neighbors who have lost everything in a fire, support members of the military and their families, and so much more. We can't say thank you enough to all of the volunteers, staff and supporter who make it all possible, and we promise to keep working hard for this incredible community!!