Writers Wanted | Holiday Safety Tips | Gift Ideas | Multicultural Awareness | Volunteer of the Month | Meet Bart | Calendar
Write for Volunteer News! We’re looking for a volunteer to take over as the writer for our monthly Volunteer Newsletter. Interested volunteers may reply to this e-mail. Please include your name, phone number and e-mail address.
Happy Holidays from the American Red Cross
This Holiday season, take some time to relax and enjoy some time with family and friends. Help keep your loved ones safe by following these helpful fire safety tips for the holidays:
Place
holiday decorations at least three feet away from heat sources like
fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles. - Make sure that light strings and other holiday decorations are in good condition. Do not use anything with frayed electrical cords and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Always unplug holiday lights (indoor and outdoor) before leaving home or going to bed.
- Keep anything that can catch on fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stove top.
- Keep candles, matches, electrical appliances, and other dangerous objects out of the reach of children and pets.
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Download a fact sheet at redcrossofnei.org.
Looking for a practical present for someone on your gift list? Shop the Red Cross and save up to 33% on gifts this season. Discounts are valid through 12/31/09.
- 2010 Calendars (33% off!)
- Apparel (up to 30% off!)
- Bags and Accessories
- First Aid Kits
- CPR Breathing Barriers
- Disaster Preparedness Items
- DVDs and Manuals
- And much more!
Not sure what to buy
for someone? Consider making a donation
to the Red Cross in their name. Your donations will provide help and hope to families
in crisis all year long. Visit http://www.redcross.org/catalog to choose a gift that saves the day.
December is Multicultural Awareness Month
As the holiday season approaches, the Multicultural Information eXchange (MIX) program of the local Red Cross celebrates its eighth year of providing translations and interpretations in over 45 language groups to non-native English speakers assimilating into the Fort Wayne area. MIX is an extension of the American Red Cross mission to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Last fiscal year, the MIX program provided 1,281 translations, 1,575 interpretations and 1,026 referrals.
On December 3, staff and volunteers from MIX and Disaster Services trained 40 participants from partner agencies in an effort to improve our delivery of disaster relief to non-native English speakers. The Red Cross trained participants from Catholic Charities, Neighborhood Action Center, World Relief, and Saint Henry's to help provide relief to multicultural clients during and after a disaster. After overcoming language and cultural barriers during last December’s ice storm, the Red Cross is striving to make disaster relief more accessible for all clients. Concerns include finding translators, providing culturally sensitive food, determining methods of transportation, and setting up shelters in familiar and easily accessible locations.
For more information about the MIX program or how you can volunteer your foreign language skills, please contact the MIX office at (260) 484-9336 x242 or visit www.redcrossofnei.org.
Volunteer of the Month: Charlie Summers II
Congratulations to Charlie Summers II, our Volunteer of the Month! Charlie is currently a member of the Disaster Services Technology committee and is actively engaged in helping to design and revise a chapter communications plan. On October 10, Charlie participated with the local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) in a drill to prepare for communications in a local disaster. Additionally, Charlie has helped the Red Cross secure a donation of handheld radios and equipment repair.
Charlie has been a Red Cross volunteer since July 2009. He first got involved with the Red Cross because he wanted to have an opportunity to give back to the community. Charlie stays motivated because of the people he gets to interact with. Congratulations, and thank you for everything you do!
Congratulations to Dick Ellison for winning the "Name
DAT Bear" contest! We're proud to call our new mascot Bart the Bear, short for Barton (as in Clara Barton, of course). As many of you know, Clara Barton was the founder of the American
Red Cross in 1881. We're proud to have a mascot named after
such an influential person in Red Cross history.
Bart makes regular appearances at local Red Cross events and also teaches local youth how to practice proper handwashing techniques through the Red Cross “Scrubby Bear” youth education program. In his spare time, Bart loves to mingle with community members and Red Cross supporters and eat large amounts of honey.
Society for H.O.P.E. Makes a Lasting Impact
On November 18, 2009, the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana hosted its third annual Society for H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Prepare for Emergencies) Fundraising Breakfast. During the event, guests heard live testimonials from Randy Roberts, Monica Herbst, Peter Connor, and a surprise greeting from Peter’s son, Nicholas, who is currently serving in the military in Iraq. Nicholas worked with the Red Cross to arrange a live web chat to surprise his parents at the breakfast.
Over 140 guests attended the event, raising nearly $100,000 for local programs and services. Thank you to our guests, donors, speakers, volunteers, staff, Ceruti’s catering and our breakfast sponsor, NIPSCO.
Click here to view photos from the breakfast.
Calendar of Events: Upcoming classes, events, and tours
- December 24: Office closes at 12:00pm
- December 25: Office closed. Happy Holidays!
- December 31: Office closes at 12:00pm
- January 1: Office closed. Happy New Year!
- January 14: Changing Lives Tour, 12:00pm- 1:00pm
- January 28: Changing Lives Tour, 12:00pm- 1:00pm
