Elizabeth Cady Stanton students help Penn Yan Children

Mrs. Pucino’s third grade classroom at Elizabeth Cady Stanton Elementary School in Seneca Falls participated in one final act of kindness prior to the start of the summer vacation.  The children followed the local news in their classroom about the flooding in Penn Yan in May.  Many homes and businesses suffered significant damage and families lost many personal belongings.

With the help and encouragement of their teacher Mrs. Pucino, the students collected stuffed animals and toys for the boys and girls in Penn Yan so they would have something to call their own.  One of the students and an American Red Cross volunteer then delivered those items to the boys and girls. For their act of kindness and selflessness, the students along with Mrs. Pucino received a certificate from the American Red Cross on the final day of school, thanking them for “making a difference”.

Mrs. Pucino retired from the Seneca Falls School District this past June after 40 years of service.  During that time she shared the importance of always using both your head and your heart.  Her classroom did just that!  They used their head to find a project which met a need and their hearts to make sure the project was a success for those counting on them.  These students followed the example and the mission of the Red Cross of alleviating human suffering by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. We thank them and look forward to them becoming future Red Cross volunteers!

 

Baseball, apple pie and American heroes

There's nothing more American than baseball, and we owe the freedom to enjoy the national pastime to the sacrifices of our military men and women. So, what better way to recognize our Veterans than by taking them out to the ballgame?

Last night, the American Red Cross hosted veterans from the Batavia Veterans Administration Hospital at the Batavia Muckdogs game at Dywer Stadium. The tickets for the game were donated to the American Red Cross by Dr. Paul C. Stomper of East Amherst, and the Red Cross also provided the meals for the Veterans in attendance (no word on if apple pie was on the menu). A picture-perfect night was made even better when the hometown Muckdogs beat the Staten Island Yankees, 5-3.

The Red Cross would like to thank Dr. Stomper and the Batavia Muckdogs for their generosity and support of our veterans, and our own Suzanne Falise for making the necessary arrangements. 

The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans and their families by providing needed comfort and care in military and veterans hospitals, support for military families with vital social services and emergency communications to keep families connected when they need it most. 

The Red Cross Always Responds

Sometimes it’s easy to forget the American Red Cross is always there. It may be because we don’t necessarily hear about it every day and like most things when you don’t hear about it you forget.

 

In the midst of weeks of unsettled weather and the busyness of summer, volunteers were hard at work in the Finger Lakes and Wayne County. Below is a list of incidents our volunteers responded to and provided help to those in need.

 

July 29^th:

·         Volunteers assisted two adults with food and housing after a single family home collapsed on West River Road in Waterloo, Seneca County

·         Volunteers assisted two families (two adults and six children) with food, clothing and transportation after an apartment building hazmat incident on West Bayard Street in Seneca Falls, Seneca County.

July 31^st:

·         Volunteers assisted two adults and one child with food following an apartment fire on West Main Street in Palmyra, Wayne County

August 2nd:

·          Volunteers assisted two adults and one child with food and housing after a tree fell onto a home on West Maple Street in Newark during a thunderstorm.

August 3rd:

·         Volunteers assisted two adults, six children and one infant with food, clothing and housing after their home flooded on Seybolt Road in Seneca Falls, Seneca County.

·         Volunteers assisted two adults and one child with food and housing after their home flooded on East Elisha Street in Waterloo, Seneca County.
 

Incidents from house fires to floods happen often and the Red Cross is always there. It is not a question of if they respond, it is when. As long as the need is there, volunteers will be there too. The good work these people do is made possible through and only through the generosity of donors. Please consider being a volunteer or making a donation to the Red Cross to help people like these who need help when the unexpected happens.

 

How You Can Help

 

 

-Veronica R. Chiesi Brown
Communications Specialist
American Red Cross WNY/Finger Lakes Region

 

 

Twilight Run Races to Success!

Who knew so many people love to run? Hundreds of people turned out to support the Red Cross Thursday night for the annual Twilight run. This year’s event featured two changes from previous years:  Sonnenberg Gardens played host for the first time, and organizers added a 10k for those long distance-loving runners in addition to the traditional 5k.

The race and post-race party turned out to be a roaring success. It included several different vendors, a live band, food the Red Cross kitchen staff provided and drinks generously donated for the event. All of this happened on the historic grounds of Sonnenberg.

I myself did participate in the 5k. The route was well laid out and it took us through Sonnenberg to the VA hospital grounds (which are very beautiful as well) and some of the gorgeous neighborhoods in the City of Canandaigua.  The weather was almost perfect, even if it was a touch humid, and although earlier in the day some dark clouds loomed, Mother Nature even appeared to smile down on the event. 

  

The people who attended seemed to have lots of fun from, the very small to the very tall. Friendly faces and happy people abound in a place which holds its own kind of heavenly appeal. So many came out to not only run in support of the American Red Cross, but also came to celebrate the runners at the after party.  All of these people-from the attendees to the numerous volunteers to the staff-helped raise more than $15,000 for disaster relief. 

Thank you to all who attended the event and congratulations to the winners in the various categories. We couldn’t have done it without you and as always appreciate your support for this fun and family-friendly event!

-Veronica R. Chiesi Brown
Communications Specialist
Western New York/Finger Lakes Region