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  31. <title>How the Red Cross is Expanding Disaster Recovery Assistance in a Changing Climate: A Chat with Jennifer Pipa, VP of Disaster Programs</title>
  32. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2024/01/11/how-the-red-cross-is-expanding-disaster-recovery-assistance-in-a-changing-climate-a-chat-with-jennifer-pipa-vp-of-disaster-programs/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-the-red-cross-is-expanding-disaster-recovery-assistance-in-a-changing-climate-a-chat-with-jennifer-pipa-vp-of-disaster-programs</link>
  34. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  35. <pubDate>Thu, 11 Jan 2024 17:33:23 +0000</pubDate>
  36. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  37. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  38. <category><![CDATA[Climate Action]]></category>
  39. <category><![CDATA[Climate Change]]></category>
  40. <category><![CDATA[Climate Crisis]]></category>
  41. <category><![CDATA[disaster recovery]]></category>
  42. <category><![CDATA[Disaster Recovery Assistance]]></category>
  43. <category><![CDATA[disaster relief]]></category>
  44. <category><![CDATA[Disaster Response]]></category>
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  49.  
  50. <description><![CDATA[<p>2023 was a record-breaking year for billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. These extreme weather events ravaged communities and forced thousands of people from their homes, resulting in a significant need ...</p>
  51. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2024/01/11/how-the-red-cross-is-expanding-disaster-recovery-assistance-in-a-changing-climate-a-chat-with-jennifer-pipa-vp-of-disaster-programs/">How the Red Cross is Expanding Disaster Recovery Assistance in a Changing Climate: A Chat with Jennifer Pipa, VP of Disaster Programs</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  52. ]]></description>
  53. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23643 " src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-1024x577.png" alt="" width="775" height="437" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-1024x577.png 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-300x169.png 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-768x433.png 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-1536x865.png 1536w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-2048x1154.png 2048w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Disaster-Assistance-Live-screengrab-e1704928325481-1918x1080.png 1918w" sizes="(max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px" /></p>
  54. <p>2023 was a record-breaking year for billion-dollar disasters in the U.S. These extreme weather events ravaged communities and forced thousands of people from their homes, resulting in a significant need for emergency sheltering and recovery resources.</p>
  55. <p>This is why at the American Red Cross, we’re adapting our disaster services and growing our capacity to help families and communities recover from increasing and more frequent disasters. In a recent live chat, Jennifer Pipa, Red Cross vice president of Disaster Programs, explained more about this vital work and how we’ve transformed our disaster recovery programs to address people’s most urgent needs in a changing climate.</p>
  56. <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0091cd;"><strong>What are the basic things people need within the first few days after a disaster? How does the Red Cross help people start to recover?</strong></span></h3>
  57. <blockquote>
  58. <h3><strong>“Every disaster starts locally. We rely on those local volunteers to support the community after a disaster strikes.</strong></h3>
  59. </blockquote>
  60. <p>The first thing we want to be able to do is give people a safe place to stay and some food because people get comfort from that. I think a lot of times when people think about the Red Cross, they do think about shelters. They think about gymnasiums or community centers and the cots and Red Cross blankets, and that&#8217;s where their image of what the Red Cross does stops. However, we do so much more inside of those four walls than just a safe place to stay and a warm meal.</p>
  61. <p>Sometimes it&#8217;s just talking to somebody. It&#8217;s a compassionate ear to listen to your experience because if you and your whole family have gone through it together, your family probably isn&#8217;t able to process and listen to your story, but we can. <strong>We’re a compassionate listener. We&#8217;re a shoulder to cry on. We&#8217;re a warm hug if that&#8217;s what a family needs.</strong></p>
  62. <p>Beyond that, it&#8217;s making sure that the family is okay and understanding that families need more than just a safe place to stay and a warm meal, especially in instances when they don’t know when they’ll return home.</p>
  63. <p>People rely on life-sustaining medications, and they may leave without those. People may have medical assistive devices, things like a cane, wheelchair or walker, and they may not have access to those. We have professionals who volunteer their time and sit inside those shelters to connect with people and help replace the medical items they lost.”</p>
  64. <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0091cd;"><strong>How has Red Cross recovery support evolved as the climate crisis has worsened?</strong></span></h3>
  65. <p>“There are a couple of new tools that we&#8217;ve introduced when we have these large-scale disaster relief operations. One of them is our shelters; Four or five years ago, our shelters may have opened for three, maybe four weeks. Now, what we&#8217;re seeing is sheltering operations that run months and months at a time. What we needed to do was understand what was preventing people from transitioning from a shelter to something more sustainable. How do we help you make that first step in your recovery? For a lot of people when we talked to them, it was simple things like, &#8220;I can find an apartment to rent, but I can&#8217;t afford the first month&#8217;s rent and a security deposit,&#8221; or &#8220;My car was damaged, and I can&#8217;t afford the deductible on my car insurance so that I can return to work.&#8221;</p>
  66. <p>We saw this universe of need that was keeping people from being able to make that first major step in recovery, which is moving from a shelter to something more sustainable and stable for their family. We acknowledged that, and said that while we want to open our Red Cross shelters and be welcoming to everybody, we also know that those are not ideal places for you to recover. The sooner we can get you into more stable housing, the better off your recovery is going to be. Hence, why we started a program called ‘shelter resident transition.’ This gives us the ability to provide financial resources to families to help defray those costs and help them be able to make that next step in their recovery journey.</p>
  67. <p>The other thing that we introduced just in the last year, which we had done for a long time in some of our long-term recovery programs, is our bridge assistance program.</p>
  68. <p>I was a regional executive in Georgia, and we had this tornado that came through the south of Atlanta. It was a small town and community, not a large tornado, but it devastated that town. We were helping them move on to their next step, but it was one of these, what we call ‘in-between disasters.’ It was so large that the community was devastated and couldn&#8217;t help itself recover, but it wasn&#8217;t quite large enough to bring in some of the large partners that could help compensate for the community&#8217;s inability.</p>
  69. <p>As we transitioned people, I realized as a humanitarian and representative of our organization, there was a gap, and these families were going to struggle because what they needed for their recovery wasn’t a program we offered at the time. That’s when we came up with our bridge assistance program. We provide this support about three to six months after those ‘in-between’ disasters.</p>
  70. <blockquote>
  71. <h3><strong>When we call these families back three or four months after a disaster, the first thing we hear is not, &#8220;Thank you for some additional financial assistance that will help.&#8221; But it&#8217;s, &#8220;Thank you for remembering that we&#8217;re still here and that this is a long, long complicated road to recovery.&#8221; </strong></h3>
  72. </blockquote>
  73. <h3></h3>
  74. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  75. <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0091cd;"><strong>What are some of the first types of assistance we may provide to people after a devastating disaster?</strong></span></h3>
  76. <p>“Our recovery starts the moment a disaster happens because we want to make sure people have access to critical medication or medical devices. We want to make sure that they have access to mental health care because we know that those are immediate problems that need to be addressed on day one of a disaster. We tailor how we offer that help based on what a family and community need and how they would most feel respected in receiving that kind of assistance.</p>
  77. <p>We have people who stay in our shelters, and we know that it’s not their first choice. It&#8217;s usually because they&#8217;re out of any other option. So, we make sure that those families have access to financial resources to help them begin their recovery. Sometimes it&#8217;s a security deposit or a first month&#8217;s rent, and sometimes people aren&#8217;t ready to make those decisions. We talk to families and ask them, &#8220;What does help look like to you?&#8221;</p>
  78. <p>We then tailor our program so that we can do that in a respectful and transparent way. After about 14 to 21 days, depending on the scale of the disaster, we make what we call immediate financial assistance available. This helps people overcome that first hurdle. Nowadays, we hear that a lot of families have less than $400 in savings, which means that they don&#8217;t have access to financial resources to help them navigate through those first recovery barriers. We play a critical role in getting cash into the hands of families right away after that first week or two, to make sure that they can make good choices for their families and start their recovery journey with us. Then, we follow up with bridge financial assistance, which is about three to six months afterward.</p>
  79. <p>That&#8217;s where we go back to families that we&#8217;ve helped before, we check in on them, we see how they&#8217;re doing and how their recovery is going. We connect them with other resources. A lot of times there&#8217;s a wealth of nonprofits that are out there that families just may not even understand or have access to. We can share that information and we can also provide additional financial resources.</p>
  80. <p>We also have a new program that we&#8217;ve just started in the last couple of years called expanded recovery assistance and that happens at about a year after a disaster. In some communities, we see people who are stalled in their recovery journey, and they need another influx of investment to help them continue to move forward.</p>
  81. <p>Now, we have a robust way to help families and understand what their needs are at that moment in time and have a tool that&#8217;s there to help them recover to their next step in the journey.”</p>
  82. <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0091cd;"><strong>What types of financial assistance are we providing families and how are they helping them recover?</strong></span></h3>
  83. <p>“There was a family in Kentucky that had lost their vehicle. They had a new place to stay, but it was going to be further away from the kid&#8217;s school and from the parent&#8217;s employment. But their car had been absolutely devastated in the tornadoes and they had almost enough money saved up to buy a used vehicle so that they could get back. They already knew where they were going to live. There was just this small gap in financial resources to get them just that little bit over that barrier and buy a used vehicle to help them get back to their normal day-to-day life.</p>
  84. <p>Coincidently, this happened exactly when we were offering bridge assistance — right at the four-month mark. When we called them, we asked them what kind of barriers they were still having, and they articulated this. We knew that bridge was the right answer for this family at this moment in time. So, we explained to them the bridge program and that this was a gift on behalf of the generosity of the American public, who was generous enough to us and trusted us as an organization to invest in us so that we could invest in families to help themselves recover. We said, &#8220;We&#8217;re able to provide this money to you, will that make a difference?&#8221; And the dad who was on the phone broke into tears, and he was so thankful.</p>
  85. <p>He said, &#8220;Before this disaster, I just thought you guys collected blood. I had no idea you did anything else.&#8221; And he said, &#8220;And now here I am and you&#8217;re helping me help my family so that we can get back to whatever this new normal is.&#8221; Those are the kinds of stories that we hear, that&#8217;s that moment in time when we know we have honored our promise to that community to take care of them after a disaster.</p>
  86. <p>We’re also able to say to the American public, &#8220;We&#8217;re being responsible with the money that you&#8217;ve entrusted us with.</p>
  87. <p>It’s an amazing thing to be able to see that not only did you take care of a family in the first couple of days after a disaster, but even four or five, six months after a disaster, we&#8217;re still walking alongside that family and we&#8217;re still taking good care of them. There is nothing better than being able to call a family a couple of months after a disaster and help them navigate what is a very complicated journey and be there for them as you continue to help them move forward.”</p>
  88. <h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0091cd;"><strong>Learn more</strong></span></h3>
  89. <p>Did you know Pipa started her Red Cross journey as a disaster volunteer? Learn all about it and more on our disaster recovery programs in this <a href="https://streamyard.com/bhwncs4vaw66"><strong>LinkedIn live conversation</strong></a>.</p>
  90. <p>You can also read more about it in <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/expanding-our-disaster-recovery-support-amid-changing-9jyvc/"><strong>this LinkedIn article</strong> </a>penned by Pipa herself.</p>
  91. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23642" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23642" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2024/01/11/how-the-red-cross-is-expanding-disaster-recovery-assistance-in-a-changing-climate-a-chat-with-jennifer-pipa-vp-of-disaster-programs/">How the Red Cross is Expanding Disaster Recovery Assistance in a Changing Climate: A Chat with Jennifer Pipa, VP of Disaster Programs</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  92. ]]></content:encoded>
  96. </item>
  97. <item>
  98. <title>How the Red Cross is Reducing Its Environmental Footprint as Disasters Increase: A Chat with Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Anderson</title>
  99. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/12/18/how-the-red-cross-is-reducing-its-environmental-footprint/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-the-red-cross-is-reducing-its-environmental-footprint</link>
  101. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  102. <pubDate>Mon, 18 Dec 2023 18:28:18 +0000</pubDate>
  103. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  104. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  105. <category><![CDATA[Carbon Footprint]]></category>
  106. <category><![CDATA[Climate Change]]></category>
  107. <category><![CDATA[Climate Crisis]]></category>
  108. <category><![CDATA[disaster relief]]></category>
  109. <category><![CDATA[Disaster Response]]></category>
  110. <category><![CDATA[LinkedIn Live]]></category>
  111. <category><![CDATA[Live Chat]]></category>
  112. <category><![CDATA[red cross]]></category>
  113. <category><![CDATA[Reduce consumption]]></category>
  114. <category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category>
  115. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23623</guid>
  116.  
  117. <description><![CDATA[<p>Every day, American Red Cross volunteers work tirelessly to help families and communities recover as they struggle with the growing frequency and intensity of disasters. Now more than ever, the ...</p>
  118. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/12/18/how-the-red-cross-is-reducing-its-environmental-footprint/">How the Red Cross is Reducing Its Environmental Footprint as Disasters Increase: A Chat with Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Anderson</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  119. ]]></description>
  120. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23624 size-large" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sustainability-Live-Screengrab-e1702923416984-1024x573.png" alt="" width="640" height="358" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sustainability-Live-Screengrab-e1702923416984-1024x573.png 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sustainability-Live-Screengrab-e1702923416984-300x168.png 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sustainability-Live-Screengrab-e1702923416984-768x430.png 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sustainability-Live-Screengrab-e1702923416984.png 1116w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
  121. <p>Every day, American Red Cross volunteers work tirelessly to help families and communities recover as they struggle with the growing frequency and intensity of disasters. Now more than ever, the way we deliver our mission matters not only for those we serve and our workforce — but also for the planet.</p>
  122. <p>Since launching our ambitious <a href="https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2023/red-cross-helps-communities-devastated-by-the-climate-crisis.html">climate crisis plan</a>, we’ve been on a mission to shed light on the devastating impacts of increasing disasters and how we’re taking steps to reduce our environmental impact on the planet and build a more sustainable future for generations to follow.</p>
  123. <p>In a recent live chat with Red Cross Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Anderson, he shared why sustainability is important to the Red Cross and revealed the various ways we’re currently reducing our waste, water usage and emissions across the country.</p>
  124. <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>How is the Red Cross reducing its impact on the planet?</strong></span></h2>
  125. <p><strong>“Five billion people, around two-thirds of the world&#8217;s population, will face at least one month of water shortage by 2050.</strong> The bottom line is that we want to do our part here at the Red Cross to address this crisis to prevent the suffering that we know will result if we don&#8217;t all take action. It’s not just about delivering our mission. It&#8217;s about delivering our mission in a way that doesn&#8217;t contribute to environmental harm. So, what are we doing about it?</p>
  126. <p>“We&#8217;re focused on three things: reducing our carbon emissions, reducing our water, and reducing our waste. When we reduce our carbon emissions, right now, we&#8217;re increasing our energy efficiencies. And over the next several years, we&#8217;re transitioning more than 80% of our facilities across the country to use renewable energy sources. We&#8217;re going to <strong>reduce our waste by 30% </strong>and we&#8217;re going to <strong>increase our rate of recycling by 50%,</strong> and we&#8217;re going to <strong>lower our water consumption by at least 20%</strong>.”</p>
  127. <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>In what ways is the Red Cross looking at reducing its carbon footprint?</strong></span></h2>
  128. <p>“We&#8217;re focused in really three major areas for reducing our carbon footprint: our facilities, fleet and supplies.</p>
  129. <p>“When you think about our facilities&#8217; emissions, our focus there is investing in energy efficiency improvements, such as efficient HVAC systems, smart thermostats or other equipment that helps us minimize our energy usage. We conducted sustainability assessments at 28 of our largest facilities and it helped us identify hundreds of efficiency improvements that we can make. One great example is a Biomedical facility in North Carolina, where we installed building automation systems that will help reduce our energy consumption and our carbon emissions by at least 15%.</p>
  130. <p>“Another area is renewable energy. We&#8217;ve been able to purchase renewable energy in 169 of our facilities across 16 states already. And in the upcoming fiscal years, our goal is to have over 80% of our facilities using renewable energy.</p>
  131. <p>“To reduce our fleet emissions, we&#8217;re focused on replacing gas-powered vehicles with hybrids and embracing electric vehicles (EV). Right now, we&#8217;re piloting electric vehicles to identify the opportunities where EVs will work for us in our operations without compromising our ability to deliver our services. We&#8217;re also making significant investments to expand our use of hybrid vehicles. Last year, we had 16 hybrid vehicles across our entire fleet, and now, we’re up to 135 hybrid vehicles. Our goal is to add more than that next year.</p>
  132. <p>“The third part of our carbon reduction involves estimating the scale of carbon emissions associated with our supply chain and addressing our waste by doing things like reducing our use of plastic water bottles and replacing Styrofoam feeding supplies with compostable items. Because of those efforts, we&#8217;ve already reduced our emissions by 24% since 2019. And that was the baseline year that we started tracking our carbon footprint.”</p>
  133. <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>What are some ways you’re reducing waste as an organization and how have these reduction efforts affected operations and the environment?</strong></span></h2>
  134. <p>“We’re trying to address these efforts in two different directions — one is by focusing on reducing the waste we’re contributing to our planet and the second is by focusing on how we&#8217;re managing that waste by responsibly recycling what we can.</p>
  135. <p>“On the supply side of things, we&#8217;ve worked with team members in supply management to make our supply chain more sustainable. For example, we tested new packaging for wipes we use in blood collections that could reduce our plastic consumption in that product line by 80%. We&#8217;ve also invested in sustainable and compostable feeding supplies for disaster relief operations, so our teams could eliminate Styrofoam and plastic from our feeding distribution efforts.</p>
  136. <p>“We&#8217;ve installed water refill stations in our facilities to cut down on single-use plastic water bottles and plastic waste. In addition, we’ve identified sustainable alternatives for some of the most popular products in our Red Cross store that our employees and volunteers use to buy supplies. There are now T-shirts in our Red Cross store made from recycled plastic water bottles!</p>
  137. <p>“On the waste management side, we&#8217;ve completed waste audits at several of our facilities and are working on developing a consistent recycling infrastructure that will help us implement proper waste disposal and recycling procedures at Red Cross facilities across the country.”</p>
  138. <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>Water conservation is critical, especially in areas at high risk for water shortages and droughts. What actions is the Red Cross taking to reduce its water usage?</strong></span></h2>
  139. <p>“We knew the absolute least about water when we first began. So, we started by focusing on the top sites that used the most water at the Red Cross based on gallons per square foot. After providing usage data to the teams managing those facilities and calling their attention to the usage and asking for voluntary reductions, we saw a reduction in the past six months of over a million gallons of water compared to the same period the previous year.</p>
  140. <p><strong>“There was a 42% reduction across those eight sites.</strong> And in most cases, it was just a matter of checking for leaks or reducing irrigation plants that they had.</p>
  141. <p>“Going forward, we&#8217;re focused on implementing xeriscaping solutions in water-stressed areas. Xeriscaping is going to replace landscaping plants with more drought-tolerant species so that we can reduce or eliminate irrigation. We&#8217;re also upgrading older fixtures and restrooms and kitchens in favor of low-flow fixtures or aerators that are going to identify the facilities that use the most water to identify and implement interventions such as installing leak detectors or rain sensors. And all those efforts are going to get us to that <strong>overall goal of reducing our water consumption by 20% by 2027.</strong>”</p>
  142. <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>Learn more</strong></span></h2>
  143. <p>If you missed the conversation with Noel, you can learn more about our sustainability efforts in <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/going-green-how-red-cross-reducing-its-environmental-wrowe/"><strong>this LinkedIn article</strong></a> penned by the CSO himself or <a href="https://streamyard.com/h7k7s7iak6ht">watch the recording</a> of the live conversation<strong>.</strong></p>
  144. <p>We also recently released our <a href="https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/press-release/2023/red-cross-publishes-second-annual-environmental--social-and-gove.html">2023 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report</a><strong> </strong>that outlines our progress and highlights areas where we aim to make a positive impact on our planet.</p>
  145. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  146. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_container" data-remoji-id="23623" data-remoji-type="post" data-remoji-name="grinning"><img decoding="async" src="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/plugins/remoji/data/emoji/1f600.svg"><span class="remoji_count">1</span></div><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23623" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23623" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/12/18/how-the-red-cross-is-reducing-its-environmental-footprint/">How the Red Cross is Reducing Its Environmental Footprint as Disasters Increase: A Chat with Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Anderson</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  147. ]]></content:encoded>
  151. </item>
  152. <item>
  153. <title>Service and Commitment: John Navarro is a Catalyst for Change and Community</title>
  154. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/11/30/service-and-commitment-john-navarro-is-a-catalyst-for-change-and-community/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=service-and-commitment-john-navarro-is-a-catalyst-for-change-and-community</link>
  156. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  157. <pubDate>Thu, 30 Nov 2023 17:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
  158. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  159. <category><![CDATA[Volunteers]]></category>
  160. <category><![CDATA[disaster action team]]></category>
  161. <category><![CDATA[john navarro]]></category>
  162. <category><![CDATA[military families]]></category>
  163. <category><![CDATA[Native American Heritage Month]]></category>
  164. <category><![CDATA[red cross california]]></category>
  165. <category><![CDATA[red cross central california]]></category>
  166. <category><![CDATA[red cross veterans]]></category>
  167. <category><![CDATA[Red Cross volunteers]]></category>
  168. <category><![CDATA[veteran appreciation]]></category>
  169. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23556</guid>
  170.  
  171. <description><![CDATA[<p>November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the work and compassion of our Red Cross community. We could not make a lifesaving difference in the ...</p>
  172. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/11/30/service-and-commitment-john-navarro-is-a-catalyst-for-change-and-community/">Service and Commitment: John Navarro is a Catalyst for Change and Community</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  173. ]]></description>
  174. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span data-contrast="auto">November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the work and compassion of our Red Cross community. We could not make a lifesaving difference in the communities we serve without dedicated volunteers like John Navarro of the American Red Cross Central California Region. </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> </span></p>
  175. <p><span data-contrast="none">As an Army veteran who faced combat during the Vietnam War, John Navarro from the Yakama Nation of Washington knows the meaning of service and sacrifice. After returning home from the battlefield, John committed the rest of his life to giving back and supporting fellow veterans in impactful ways.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  176. <p><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-23559 alignleft" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-1-819x1024.jpg" alt="" width="331" height="414" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-1-240x300.jpg 240w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-1-768x960.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-1-864x1080.jpg 864w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-1.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 331px) 100vw, 331px" /></p>
  177. <p><span data-contrast="none">John’s journey of service began in his early twenties when he took on the role of a coach for various sports, including soccer, football, baseball, softball and basketball. For over 50 years, he passionately coached both adults and children, emphasizing the values of fair play, honesty and camaraderie. John’s commitment to instilling these principles through sports has left a lasting impact on countless individuals across Central California.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  178. <p><b><span data-contrast="none">Leading the American Indian Veterans Association</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  179. <p><span data-contrast="none">For over 15 admirable years, John has been an instrumental leader driving the mission of the American Indian Veterans Association (AIVA) forward.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  180. <p><span data-contrast="none">Throughout his tenure, John served as AIVA President, setting a vision and strategy to better support Native veterans across the region. Currently as vice president, John continues to support the veteran community. Under John’s passionate leadership, the AIVA has grown into a major force for good. He helped evolve the organization into one that uplifts Native veterans through community, camaraderie and healing support.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  181. <p><span data-contrast="none">“I have a goal to improve with where we’re at the moment,” John said. “I want to do a lot more for our veterans, for the Association. To go out and do more community service and be more involved.”?</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  182. <p><b><span data-contrast="none">Helping Neighbors Impacted by Disasters Big and Small</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  183. <p><span data-contrast="none">John also dedicates his time to disaster relief, helping community members recover from catastrophic events beyond their control. As a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team, he actively participates in disaster response efforts, offering crucial assistance to families affected by unforeseen events. John’s involvement ensures that families receive the support they need in times of crisis, from shelter and clothing to emotional and spiritual guidance.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  184. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23558 alignright" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-2-819x1024.jpg" alt="" width="338" height="423" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-2-819x1024.jpg 819w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-2-240x300.jpg 240w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-2-768x960.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-2-864x1080.jpg 864w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-2.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px" /></p>
  185. <p><span data-contrast="none">“That is the beat of the Red Cross – being able to help others in time of need and I love that. I love that about the Red Cross and that I can do that,” said John. “I can help a family of six kids and mom and dad, and that’s good. It’s a good feeling.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  186. <p><span data-contrast="none">When wildfires ravaged California communities, John was there on the frontlines to offer shelter, food, clothing and comfort to devastated victims who lost everything. After flash floods destroyed homes, John rushed to the scene to provide emotional support and critical supplies so families could begin their recovery. During home fires, John helps coordinate emergency assistance for those who need it most. On top of that, he even installs smoke alarms across the community to prevent those tragic home fires from happening.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  187. <p><b><span data-contrast="none">A Lifelong Volunteer</span></b><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  188. <p><span data-contrast="none">John’s compassion and eagerness to help those facing challenges are limitless. He has volunteered on funeral honor guards across the Valley to ensure fallen veterans receive proper memorial services. When the pandemic struck, John made wellness check-in calls to isolated senior veterans.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  189. <p><span data-contrast="none">For over a decade, John has coordinated the Fresno Veterans Treatment Court mentorship program with passion and purpose. He works diligently to match mentors with veteran participants to provide guidance critical for getting their lives back on track. John draws on his personal experience to offer counsel and encouragement during this sensitive time.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  190. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23557 alignleft" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="416" height="312" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3-300x225.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3-768x576.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/john-vet-3.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 416px) 100vw, 416px" /></p>
  191. <p><span data-contrast="none">Today at 75 years old, John continues spearheading local food drives to ensure families do not go hungry. He spends his weekends building wheelchair ramps for community members lacking mobility access. There is seemingly no limit to John’s will to give back at every moment possible.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  192. <p><span data-contrast="none">John’s 50 tireless years of volunteer service demonstrate the monumental impact one deeply committed person can have to catalyze positive change. His unrelenting dedication has uplifted veterans, disaster victims and his broader community for decades. John exemplifies how consistent volunteering of one’s time and skills can transform lives for the better. His profound commitment to serving others before himself represents the pinnacle of human compassion.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  193. <p><span data-contrast="none">“That’s just it, I can’t wait for the next for the next day to see what else I can do.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  194. <p><a href="https://redcrosscentralcalifornia.com/2023/11/21/service-and-commitment-john-navarro-is-a-c[%E2%80%A6]N3G0GlcTKF55PXlfJ4dkYGO8h6_g8KXiTEMeNyP_z274hVFsmcs2X4" rel="nofollow"><b><i><span data-contrast="none">This story was originally published on the American Red Cross Central California Region’s blog.</span></i></b></a><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
  195. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23556" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23556" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/11/30/service-and-commitment-john-navarro-is-a-catalyst-for-change-and-community/">Service and Commitment: John Navarro is a Catalyst for Change and Community</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  196. ]]></content:encoded>
  200. </item>
  201. <item>
  202. <title>How the Red Cross Is Evolving Its Disaster Relief Efforts Amid the Climate Crisis: A Chat with Red Cross VP of Disaster Programs Jennifer Pipa</title>
  203. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/10/03/how-the-red-cross-is-evolving-its-disaster-relief-efforts-amid-the-climate-crisis-a-chat-with-red-cross-vp-of-disaster-programs-jennifer-pipa/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=how-the-red-cross-is-evolving-its-disaster-relief-efforts-amid-the-climate-crisis-a-chat-with-red-cross-vp-of-disaster-programs-jennifer-pipa</link>
  205. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  206. <pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:42:32 +0000</pubDate>
  207. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  208. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  209. <category><![CDATA[Climate Action]]></category>
  210. <category><![CDATA[Climate Crisis]]></category>
  211. <category><![CDATA[disaster]]></category>
  212. <category><![CDATA[disaster relief]]></category>
  213. <category><![CDATA[Disaster Response]]></category>
  214. <category><![CDATA[red cross]]></category>
  215. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23271</guid>
  216.  
  217. <description><![CDATA[<p>More communities will rely on American Red Cross services as the climate crisis causes more intense and frequent extreme weather across the country. In a recent LinkedIn live discussion, moderated ...</p>
  218. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/10/03/how-the-red-cross-is-evolving-its-disaster-relief-efforts-amid-the-climate-crisis-a-chat-with-red-cross-vp-of-disaster-programs-jennifer-pipa/">How the Red Cross Is Evolving Its Disaster Relief Efforts Amid the Climate Crisis: A Chat with Red Cross VP of Disaster Programs Jennifer Pipa</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  219. ]]></description>
  220. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23272" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-09-26-at-3.41.50-PM-1024x575.png" alt="" width="750" height="421" /></p>
  221. <p>More communities will rely on American Red Cross services as the climate crisis causes more intense and frequent extreme weather across the country. In a recent LinkedIn live discussion, moderated by Ashleigh Banfield, Red Cross Greater New York board member and host of “Banfield” on NewsNation, we asked Jennifer Pipa, vice president of Disaster Programs at the Red Cross, about the ways we’re adapting our services and growing our disaster response capacity to help people affected by unrelenting disasters.</p>
  222. <h3><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>What are the significant ways the climate crisis is affecting disaster response?</strong></span></h3>
  223. <p>“We are seeing more disasters that are significantly larger, impacting communities at a much higher rate in today&#8217;s world than even say 10, 15 or 20 years ago. <strong>They&#8217;re larger, and they&#8217;re more destructive, and that has a significant impact on our organization and how we&#8217;re challenged to deliver our mission</strong>.</p>
  224. <p>“I&#8217;ve gone back to the same communities year after year after year, and it is heartbreaking to see the same families inside of our shelters because they&#8217;ve been displaced multiple years because of hurricanes. To watch a family weather destruction of their home, or significant impact on their home, repair it, get back on their feet, and then, two years later run into them in a Red Cross shelter again, it&#8217;s that repetitive impact that just drains the resilience right out of a community.</p>
  225. <p>“Places that haven&#8217;t historically been impacted are unfamiliar with what a disaster relief operation looks like, of how you help your community recover. We&#8217;re in places like Vermont and Arkansas and Kentucky. These are areas that historically as an organization we haven’t had to respond to for a large-scale disaster.</p>
  226. <p>“We see a huge demand for mental health. Those are the primary barriers that families and communities are telling us that keep them from moving on to their next step.”</p>
  227. <h3><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>With the climate crisis causing devastating impacts in communities, how is the Red Cross responding? What are the tangible efforts you’re making?</strong></span></h3>
  228. <p>“We&#8217;re really looking at what are large-scale disaster response looks like. How do we staff it? How do we take care of those communities? How do we connect with that community on an authentic level to understand how that community wants to navigate its own recovery? The second is focused on additional financial assistance. It&#8217;s one of the things that as an organization we are well positioned to do, and <strong>we provide immediate financial assistance usually within about 10 to 14 days after a disaster.</strong> What we&#8217;ve seen is that it isn&#8217;t enough. There is a place for us as an organization to make additional investments in individuals and families.</p>
  229. <p>“The third is around those local partner networks. When we talk about health, hunger and housing, those are three major barriers that we&#8217;re seeing. Those aren&#8217;t necessarily mission services that fall within the Red Cross’ expertise, but there are people in those communities who do that every single day. And because of that, we can connect with those providers before a disaster happens, help support them in becoming resilient, and then, we know that will translate into better outcomes for individuals and families.</p>
  230. <p>“Last, we are a volunteer-supported organization. We don&#8217;t do anything in this organization without the power of mobilizing volunteers. If you’re going to run operations concurrently, you got to have the volunteer backup to do that. So, there is an acknowledgment that we need to grow our volunteer base in order to meet the mission delivery that we want in this organization.”</p>
  231. <h3><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>What is the Red Cross doing to empower local communities to become more resilient?</strong></span></h3>
  232. <p>“Our Community Adaptation Program focuses on very local community blocks that are struggling every single day, but then at the same time, we’re getting these repetitive impacts from these large-scale disaster relief operations. We talked about the three major barriers, housing, hunger or food insecurity, and then, the physical and mental health impacts.</p>
  233. <p>“There are tons of nonprofits out there that do that today, but if they get impacted and they go offline during a disaster, people will turn to us because we can provide that as a proxy for a short period of time. But <strong>we know that in order for people to return back to their community, that infrastructure needs to be present and engaged and able to deliver their mission as well</strong>.</p>
  234. <p>“In Arkansas, we have this group of women with the Frenchman&#8217;s Bayou of the First Baptist Church and they provide food for food-insecure families. And their feeding distribution had been about 50 people a month. But we know that if we could increase their capacity, this would do two amazing things. One, it helps that community every single day by increasing its capacity. Second, it helps get their unit back online sooner when a disaster strikes. So, we help them invest in a box truck.</p>
  235. <p>“That means that they&#8217;re taking better care of their community every single day. And when the next disaster happens, because we know it, they will be well positioned to walk alongside us in that disaster relief operation and help serve people.”</p>
  236. <h3><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>What can everyday people do?</strong></span></h3>
  237. <p>“The first thing you can do is take preparedness actions today to make sure that you are ready for whatever. That means, becoming <a href="https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies.html">weather aware</a> about what the most likely risks are that might pose a problem for you and your family and your community. It means being weather-aware about alerts and notifications. We have a Red Cross <a href="https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html">Emergency app</a>, which is free to download, which will send you alerts. It also allows you to monitor other people&#8217;s locations.</p>
  238. <p>“The second is <a href="https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html">volunteering</a> with us. You don&#8217;t have to necessarily volunteer in light of a disaster. You can be a blood donor ambassador, which welcomes people and provides them with refreshments and snacks after they&#8217;ve donated.</p>
  239. <p>“The third is <a href="https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive">donating blood</a>. We are the largest single provider of blood, about 40% of the nation&#8217;s blood supply comes from our organization. We rely on the generosity of donors to roll up their sleeve and donate blood. I am a lifelong blood donor. I passed my six-gallon mark a couple of months ago.</p>
  240. <p>“There are so many opportunities for people to engage with our organization. It&#8217;s so flexible depending on where you are in your life and what your circumstances are, but this is only getting harder. It&#8217;s only getting busier. The work we do is incredibly important, but we rely on the generosity of volunteers, donors and partners to do that, and we couldn&#8217;t do it without people raising their hand and helping us.”</p>
  241. <h3><span style="color: #004b79;"><strong>Learn more</strong></span></h3>
  242. <p>Wanted to take a deeper dive into the ambitious Red Cross plan to address the climate crisis? Here are three ways you can learn more about it:</p>
  243. <ul>
  244. <li><strong>Visit the American Red Cross Climate Crisis Resource page</strong> (available in <a href="https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/climate-crisis.html">English</a> and <a href="https://www.redcross.org/cruz-roja/nosotros/noticias-y-eventos/crisis-climatica.html">Spanish</a>)</li>
  245. <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/our-bold-plan-build-resilience-amid-climate-crisis/"><strong>Read about it in this LinkedIn article</strong> </a>penned by Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern</li>
  246. <li><a href="https://streamyard.com/txsgewtzmk3r"><strong>Watch the full LinkedIn Live conversation</strong></a> between Ashleigh Banfield and Jennifer Pipa</li>
  247. </ul>
  248. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23271" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23271" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/10/03/how-the-red-cross-is-evolving-its-disaster-relief-efforts-amid-the-climate-crisis-a-chat-with-red-cross-vp-of-disaster-programs-jennifer-pipa/">How the Red Cross Is Evolving Its Disaster Relief Efforts Amid the Climate Crisis: A Chat with Red Cross VP of Disaster Programs Jennifer Pipa</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  249. ]]></content:encoded>
  253. </item>
  254. <item>
  255. <title>Hispanic Heritage Month: Bridging Communities Together for a More Resilient Future</title>
  256. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/10/03/hispanic-heritage-month-bridging-communities-together-for-a-more-resilient-future/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=hispanic-heritage-month-bridging-communities-together-for-a-more-resilient-future</link>
  258. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  259. <pubDate>Tue, 03 Oct 2023 14:15:18 +0000</pubDate>
  260. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  261. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  262. <category><![CDATA[community partnerships]]></category>
  263. <category><![CDATA[diana manzo-prado]]></category>
  264. <category><![CDATA[disaster operations]]></category>
  265. <category><![CDATA[diverse community engagement]]></category>
  266. <category><![CDATA[hispanic community]]></category>
  267. <category><![CDATA[Hispanic Heritage Month]]></category>
  268. <category><![CDATA[Latino Community]]></category>
  269. <category><![CDATA[red cross central california]]></category>
  270. <category><![CDATA[red cross disaster]]></category>
  271. <category><![CDATA[red cross hispanic heritage]]></category>
  272. <category><![CDATA[Red Cross partnerships]]></category>
  273. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23262</guid>
  274.  
  275. <description><![CDATA[<p>National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions and cultural heritage of Hispanic and Latino Americans. We could not deliver the Red Cross mission without our many Hispanic staff, volunteers and donors. Among our dedicated Red Crossers is Diana Manzo Prado of Central California.</p>
  276. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/10/03/hispanic-heritage-month-bridging-communities-together-for-a-more-resilient-future/">Hispanic Heritage Month: Bridging Communities Together for a More Resilient Future</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  277. ]]></description>
  278. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-23263" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-300x225.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-768x576.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-1-1440x1080.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
  279. <p>National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions and cultural heritage of Hispanic and Latino Americans. We could not deliver the Red Cross mission without our many Hispanic staff, volunteers and donors. Among our dedicated Red Crossers is Diana Manzo-Prado of Central California.</p>
  280. <p><strong>Diana&#8217;s Journey with the Red Cross</strong></p>
  281. <p>In 2021, Diana decided to embark on a significant life change, transitioning from a career in retail to becoming a business operations coordinator for the Red Cross, where she found her footing within the organization.</p>
  282. <p>Diana’s inspiration to become deeply involved in disaster services and preparedness evolved during her deployment to Florida in response to Hurricane Ian in 2022. Working night shifts at a shelter, she overcame initial challenges and discovered her passion for hands-on disaster response. This experience ignited her strong desire to be “boots on the ground,” actively helping people and making a difference in their lives.</p>
  283. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-23265 alignleft" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="481" height="321" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-300x200.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-768x512.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-3-1620x1080.jpg 1620w" sizes="(max-width: 481px) 100vw, 481px" />Shortly after she returned home, California experienced historic rain and flooding due to a series of powerful atmospheric rivers this winter. Diana once again responded to provide disaster relief, but this response effort struck close to home. Diana’s hometown of Planada was severely impacted by devastating flooding across her community, and she spent weeks dedicating herself to connecting her neighbors, family members and even former teachers to resources including shelter, clean water and recovery services. This experience reinforced her commitment to ensuring that everyone affected by disasters can access relief in an equitable, compassionate and timely manner.</p>
  284. <p>Inspired by her time in the field, Diana embarked on a newly created role as the Central California Region’s diverse community engagement manager. In this role, she serves as a liaison, connecting the Red Cross’s mission to our communities, particularly within Hispanic and Latino populations. Her responsibilities include providing resources and vital information, building community trust and collaborating with organizations to ensure community preparedness and resiliency in emergencies.</p>
  285. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23264" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-2-1024x773.jpg" alt="" width="534" height="403" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-2-1024x773.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-2-300x226.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-2-768x580.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-2.jpg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 534px) 100vw, 534px" /></p>
  286. <p><strong>Making a Difference</strong></p>
  287. <p>Diana measures the impact of her work by building partnerships with organizations and strengthening the engagement of diverse Hispanic and Latino communities. Whether she’s forming new relationships or strengthening existing ones, her goal is to ensure that the community trusts and feels comfortable seeking resources during times of need. Her daily activities involve various responsibilities, all aimed at creating a bridge between the Red Cross and these communities, ensuring they have access to essential services and support.</p>
  288. <p><strong>Influence of Hispanic Heritage</strong></p>
  289. <p>Diana’s Mexican heritage holds immense significance as it honors her ancestors’ dedication, hard work and sacrifices. It reminds her of the strong work ethic passed down through generations and motivates her to carry forward these values and traditions.</p>
  290. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23267 alignright" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/378522976_851607349544957_203451491877528007_n-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="507" height="338" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/378522976_851607349544957_203451491877528007_n-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/378522976_851607349544957_203451491877528007_n-300x200.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/378522976_851607349544957_203451491877528007_n-768x512.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/378522976_851607349544957_203451491877528007_n.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px" />Diana’s Hispanic background profoundly influences her work with the Red Cross. Her strong sense of community, family and selflessness align with the Red Cross’s mission of helping people in times of need. Whether engaging with the community or collaborating with colleagues, Diana’s innate willingness to assist and support others reflects the values instilled in her from her family and community.</p>
  291. <p>Hispanic Heritage Month is of paramount importance to her as it recognizes and celebrates the invaluable contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities to the United States’ progress. It provides a platform to honor Hispanic leaders, highlight representation and commemorate the cultural richness and diversity that enrich our nation.</p>
  292. <p><strong>Legacy of Compassion and Preparedness</strong></p>
  293. <p>Diana’s legacy is characterized by kindness and an unwavering commitment to making a positive difference. She hopes to be remembered as someone who ensured that everyone, regardless of their background or community, was prepared for challenges they might face, particularly during times of need. Diana aspires to embody the humanitarian spirit and contribute to a more compassionate and prepared community, leaving a lasting impact on the lives she touches.</p>
  294. <p>Diana’s journey with the Red Cross exemplifies the power of community, compassion and commitment. Her story serves as an inspiration to us all, highlighting the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month and the remarkable contributions of individuals like Diana to our shared humanitarian mission.</p>
  295. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23266" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-4.webp" alt="" width="504" height="387" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-4.webp 648w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Diana-Manzo-Prado-4-300x231.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 504px) 100vw, 504px" /></p>
  296. <p><em>This blog was originally posted by <a href="https://redcrosscentralcalifornia.com/2023/09/15/diana-manzo-prado-is-bridging-communities-for-a-more-resilient-future/?fbclid=IwAR1fxmKOaxMCJFo36EVuijZWcH_0w8op6eDwSbl6g0zktojCYrroKgNe5NQ">the American Red Cross Central California Region.</a></em></p>
  297. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23262" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23262" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/10/03/hispanic-heritage-month-bridging-communities-together-for-a-more-resilient-future/">Hispanic Heritage Month: Bridging Communities Together for a More Resilient Future</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  298. ]]></content:encoded>
  302. </item>
  303. <item>
  304. <title>Panda Express Commits Largest Gift to Date — $2.2M — to Hawaii Wildfire Relief Efforts</title>
  305. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/09/01/panda-express-commits-largest-gift-to-date-2-2m-to-hawaii-wildfire-relief-efforts/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=panda-express-commits-largest-gift-to-date-2-2m-to-hawaii-wildfire-relief-efforts</link>
  307. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  308. <pubDate>Fri, 01 Sep 2023 18:13:47 +0000</pubDate>
  309. <category><![CDATA[Development]]></category>
  310. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  311. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  312. <category><![CDATA[Disaster Response]]></category>
  313. <category><![CDATA[Hawaii wildfires]]></category>
  314. <category><![CDATA[Panda Express]]></category>
  315. <category><![CDATA[philanthropy]]></category>
  316. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23256</guid>
  317.  
  318. <description><![CDATA[<p>In early August, the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui. In the wake of the devastation, the American Red Cross, along with our partners, ...</p>
  319. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/09/01/panda-express-commits-largest-gift-to-date-2-2m-to-hawaii-wildfire-relief-efforts/">Panda Express Commits Largest Gift to Date — $2.2M — to Hawaii Wildfire Relief Efforts</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  320. ]]></description>
  321. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In early August, the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history tore through the Hawaiian island of Maui. In the wake of the devastation, the American Red Cross, along with our partners, rushed to help — providing shelter, meals and emotional support.</p>
  322. <p>Panda Express is one of those generous partners. Almost immediately, they turned on their in-store donation program and a dollar-for-dollar corporate matching program and raised $2.2M to help Red Cross relief efforts in the wake of the fires.</p>
  323. <figure id="attachment_23257" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23257" style="width: 363px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23257" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MicrosoftTeams-image-4-768x1024.jpg" alt="Red Crosser holding fortune from Panda Express cookie" width="363" height="410" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23257" class="wp-caption-text">Red Crosser Dave Gutierrez, Senior Director of Program Management for Disaster Operations and Logistics, was deployed to Maui in the wake of the wildfires.</figcaption></figure>
  324. <p>Locally, Panda associates on Maui collaborated with the Salvation Army and Red Cross to host a Panda Cares event, feeding 860 first responders and community members displaced by the fires. Additionally, they provided free meals to local community members throughout the month of August and also supplied 10,000 fortune cookies to the Red Cross operation.</p>
  325. <p>“Our hearts go out to the families and communities impacted by the devastating Hawaii wildfires,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. “We are so very grateful to Panda Express for their generous donation, which enables us to offer hope, comfort and essential support to families reeling from these deadly fires.”</p>
  326. <p>“The impact of the Maui wildfires has been devastating, and we extend our heartfelt empathy and care to those who have been affected by this tragedy,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. &#8220;Giving is a core value at Panda, and we are so thankful for how our community of guests and associates have come together, in partnership with the American Red Cross, to help those in need.”</p>
  327. <p>As a long-time Red Cross supporter, Panda Express has stepped up continuously to help during disasters. With this most recent gift, Panda Cares Foundation — the philanthropic arm — has donated nearly $7.2M toward Red Cross relief efforts over the years, powering our response after several hurricanes and during the Ukraine humanitarian crisis. Panda also regularly provides meals in the wake of local disasters around the country, helping those in need while also ensuring Red Crossers working around the clock are fed.</p>
  328. <p>Thank you to Panda Express and your guests for your incredible generosity in the wake of these tragic wildfires. We couldn&#8217;t fulfill our mission without supportive partners like you! <a href="https://www.redcross.org/donations/companies-and-foundations.html">Learn more</a> about how you can partner with the Red Cross to support disaster relief.</p>
  329. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23256" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23256" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/09/01/panda-express-commits-largest-gift-to-date-2-2m-to-hawaii-wildfire-relief-efforts/">Panda Express Commits Largest Gift to Date — $2.2M — to Hawaii Wildfire Relief Efforts</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  330. ]]></content:encoded>
  334. </item>
  335. <item>
  336. <title>National Youth Council Member Cissy Wang Shares Her Experience at the Inter-American Conference in the Bahamas</title>
  337. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/26/national-youth-council-member-cissy-wang-shares-her-experience-at-the-inter-american-conference-in-the-bahamas/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=national-youth-council-member-cissy-wang-shares-her-experience-at-the-inter-american-conference-in-the-bahamas</link>
  339. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  340. <pubDate>Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:40:39 +0000</pubDate>
  341. <category><![CDATA[International]]></category>
  342. <category><![CDATA[Volunteers]]></category>
  343. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  344. <category><![CDATA[Bahamas]]></category>
  345. <category><![CDATA[National Youth Council]]></category>
  346. <category><![CDATA[red cross]]></category>
  347. <category><![CDATA[Red Cross Youth]]></category>
  348. <category><![CDATA[volunteering]]></category>
  349. <category><![CDATA[youth volunteers]]></category>
  350. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23248</guid>
  351.  
  352. <description><![CDATA[<p>As a young leader, I had the privilege to attend the XXII Red Cross Inter-American Conference as the American Red Cross’ Youth Delegate. It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime to ...</p>
  353. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/26/national-youth-council-member-cissy-wang-shares-her-experience-at-the-inter-american-conference-in-the-bahamas/">National Youth Council Member Cissy Wang Shares Her Experience at the Inter-American Conference in the Bahamas</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  354. ]]></description>
  355. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23249" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-903x1024.jpg" alt="A headshot of a young woman with long dark brown hair and a long sleeve black shirt with an American Red Cross logo. " width="549" height="623" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-903x1024.jpg 903w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-264x300.jpg 264w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-768x871.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-1354x1536.jpg 1354w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-1805x2048.jpg 1805w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/CissyProfessionalHeadshot-e1690387579176-952x1080.jpg 952w" sizes="(max-width: 549px) 100vw, 549px" /></p>
  356. <p class="paragraph"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">As a young leader, I had the privilege to attend the XXII </span><a href="https://disasterlaw.ifrc.org/node/924" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Red Cross Inter-American Conference</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> as the American Red Cross’ Youth Delegate. It was truly an opportunity of a lifetime to sit alongside fellow youth and National Society leaders and innovate “Local Solutions to Global Challenges,” a clearly fitting theme for the conference. </span></p>
  357. <p class="paragraph"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">A total of 34 National Societies gathered in Nassau, Bahamas with an objective of strengthening cooperation among the region’s societies and establishing a shared commitment to addressing global humanitarian concerns.  </span></p>
  358. <p class="paragraph"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">Within the American Red Cross, I serve as the Peer Outreach Working Group Lead of the </span><a href="https://www.redcross.org/red-cross-youth/national-youth-council.html"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">National Youth Council</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">, a group of thirteen youth volunteers nationally representing our youth program. Outside of this role, I’m also engaged in our </span><a href="https://www.redcross.org/humanityinwar/international-humanitarian-law-youth-action-campaign.html"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign</span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> where I guide teams in learning and spreading awareness about global conflicts and civilian protection.</span></p>
  359. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23251 alignright" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image008-e1690387746176.jpg" alt="" width="394" height="442" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image008-e1690387746176.jpg 598w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/image008-e1690387746176-268x300.jpg 268w" sizes="(max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px" /></p>
  360. <p class="paragraph"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">Before the main session of the conference, I participated in a two-day youth event alongside 18 other Youth Delegates representing the various National Societies and IFRC Youth Commission. It focused on bringing together youth leaders across the Americas and discussing what we can collectively work on to amplify and empower youth and young adult voices.  </span></p>
  361. <p class="paragraph"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">One of my favorite highlights of this event was a visit from Dyanne Marenco González, President of the Costa Rica Red Cross. As a 32-year-old female National Society President, she empowered our group with her impactful words about overcoming doubt as a young leader when surrounded by seasoned professionals and embracing youth as the present, not just the future. </span></p>
  362. <p class="paragraph"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Over the two days, I shared the breadth of resources and initiatives our National Youth Council creates to keep youth volunteers engaged in volunteerism. I received new best practices from others in topics ranging from structures for youth in governance to diversifying content across age groups. I knew I would have great insights to bring back and share with our own youth leaders following the conference. I also realized my growth as not only a youth leader but also a global citizen; conversations about Red Cross volunteerism bled into glimpses of life and culture across the National Societies.</span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
  363. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23250" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM-1024x657.png" alt="" width="651" height="418" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM-1024x657.png 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM-300x192.png 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM-768x493.png 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM-1536x985.png 1536w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM-1683x1080.png 1683w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Screen-Shot-2023-07-10-at-4.55.27-PM.png 1992w" sizes="(max-width: 651px) 100vw, 651px" /></p>
  364. <p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Throughout the plenary session regarding Youth and Volunteerism, it was empowering and inspiring to see the Youth Delegates I had formed such close connections with speak on a stage in front of the full delegations of all societies. </span></span></p>
  365. <p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
  366. <p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Going forward, I see an American Red Cross Youth goal as bringing youth/young adults closer to staff and leadership through prioritizing interpersonal connections. As for how we interact with our global peers, we must continue to engage with youth across the Americas and further foster these conference connections by increasing the opportunities to collaborate. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
  367. <p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
  368. <p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">This experience has made me feel even more empowered as a young adult that I can directly impact my community and our world through volunteerism. The connections made at this conference and beyond will be long-lasting and I’m grateful to have built relationships with people who share my desire to serve the Red Cross mission all around the world. </span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
  369. <p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;"> </span></span></p>
  370. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_container" data-remoji-id="23248" data-remoji-type="post" data-remoji-name="heart_eyes"><img decoding="async" src="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/plugins/remoji/data/emoji/1f60d.svg"><span class="remoji_count">2</span></div><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23248" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23248" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/26/national-youth-council-member-cissy-wang-shares-her-experience-at-the-inter-american-conference-in-the-bahamas/">National Youth Council Member Cissy Wang Shares Her Experience at the Inter-American Conference in the Bahamas</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  371. ]]></content:encoded>
  375. </item>
  376. <item>
  377. <title>People — not mosquitoes — need blood: Partnering to bolster the nation’s blood supply</title>
  378. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/21/people-not-mosquitoes-need-blood-partnering-to-bolster-the-nations-blood-supply/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=people-not-mosquitoes-need-blood-partnering-to-bolster-the-nations-blood-supply</link>
  380. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  381. <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:38:37 +0000</pubDate>
  382. <category><![CDATA[Blood]]></category>
  383. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  384. <category><![CDATA[blood donation]]></category>
  385. <category><![CDATA[Corporate partner]]></category>
  386. <category><![CDATA[philanthropy]]></category>
  387. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23242</guid>
  388.  
  389. <description><![CDATA[<p>Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood — and the American Red Cross works tirelessly to provide 40% of the nation’s blood supply. Each day, we must collect ...</p>
  390. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/21/people-not-mosquitoes-need-blood-partnering-to-bolster-the-nations-blood-supply/">People — not mosquitoes — need blood: Partnering to bolster the nation’s blood supply</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  391. ]]></description>
  392. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-23243" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-1024x768.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-300x225.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-768x576.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Photo-Jul-06-2023-10-40-44-AM-1440x1080.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></p>
  393. <p style="text-align: left;">Every 2 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood — and the American Red Cross works tirelessly to provide 40% of the nation’s blood supply. Each day, we must collect approximately 12,500 blood and nearly 3,000 platelet donations to meet the needs of patients across the country.</p>
  394. <p>During the summer months, vacations and school closures often impact blood drives, and it can be challenging to maintain an adequate supply. To help ensure Red Cross shelves stay stocked with lifesaving blood, our partner Orkin stepped up to host its “Mosquitoes Don’t Deserve a Drop” campaign for the fourth year in a row.</p>
  395. <figure id="attachment_23245" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-23245" style="width: 280px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23245 size-medium" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--280x300.jpg" alt="Woman donating blood" width="280" height="300" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--280x300.jpg 280w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--956x1024.jpg 956w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--768x822.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--1434x1536.jpg 1434w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--1912x2048.jpg 1912w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Dawn-Aguayo_Gendale-AZ_crop--1008x1080.jpg 1008w" sizes="(max-width: 280px) 100vw, 280px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-23245" class="wp-caption-text">Orkin&#8217;s Dawn Aguayo donates blood at a recent drive.</figcaption></figure>
  396. <p>Orkin’s mission through its awareness campaign is to help protect people against the public health threats of mosquitoes — diseases like West Nile virus and Zika — while making sure these pests don’t get a drop of the country’s blood supply.</p>
  397. <p>As part of this year’s campaign, Orkin donated $250,000 to the Red Cross and co-hosted blood drives in five cities across the U.S., resulting in 126 units of blood collected. Since 2020, Orkin has supported the Red Cross through Mosquitoes Don’t Deserve a Drop, and to date, has donated $620,000.</p>
  398. <p>“I’m thrilled to have participated in Orkin’s Mosquitoes Don’t Deserve a Drop campaign with the American Red Cross,” said Commercial Sales Director Dawn Aguayo. “By donating blood I’m able to make a significant difference in helping to save lives.”</p>
  399. <div>
  400. <p>We’re honored to partner with Orkin year after year and appreciate their commitment to community health. Thank you for helping us maintain the blood supply each summer!</p>
  401. <p>To learn more about how you can partner with a purpose and support our lifesaving mission, click <a href="https://www.redcross.org/donations/companies-and-foundations.html">here</a>.</p>
  402. </div>
  403. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23242" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23242" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/21/people-not-mosquitoes-need-blood-partnering-to-bolster-the-nations-blood-supply/">People — not mosquitoes — need blood: Partnering to bolster the nation’s blood supply</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  404. ]]></content:encoded>
  408. </item>
  409. <item>
  410. <title>Pup-paredness is a Family Effort</title>
  411. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/12/pup-paredness-is-a-family-effort/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pup-paredness-is-a-family-effort</link>
  413. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  414. <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:18:24 +0000</pubDate>
  415. <category><![CDATA[Disaster]]></category>
  416. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  417. <category><![CDATA[disaster preparedness]]></category>
  418. <category><![CDATA[emergency preparedness]]></category>
  419. <category><![CDATA[pet emergency kit]]></category>
  420. <category><![CDATA[pet preparedness]]></category>
  421. <category><![CDATA[pet safety]]></category>
  422. <category><![CDATA[red cross]]></category>
  423. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23229</guid>
  424.  
  425. <description><![CDATA[<p>Pet preparedness is important to me because my dog Oakley came into my life during the Oak Fire in Mariposa. Unfortunately, the emergency conditions her owners found themselves in meant ...</p>
  426. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/12/pup-paredness-is-a-family-effort/">Pup-paredness is a Family Effort</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  427. ]]></description>
  428. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-23233" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/342998001_160525956670273_8789118045986594633_n-1024x766.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="479" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/342998001_160525956670273_8789118045986594633_n-1024x766.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/342998001_160525956670273_8789118045986594633_n-300x224.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/342998001_160525956670273_8789118045986594633_n-768x574.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/342998001_160525956670273_8789118045986594633_n.jpg 1325w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></h3>
  429. <h3 class="wp-block-heading" style="text-align: left;"><strong><em><span style="color: #0091cd;">Pet preparedness is important to me because my dog Oakley came into my life during the Oak Fire in Mariposa.</span></em></strong></h3>
  430. <p>Unfortunately, the emergency conditions her owners found themselves in meant that they were unable to keep her safe during the wildfire evacuation. Because of her history, Oakley and I have taken several steps to be prepared. If we ever had to go through an emergency together, it is important to me to keep her safe.</p>
  431. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-23232  alignright" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-832x1024.jpg" alt="" width="381" height="469" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-832x1024.jpg 832w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-244x300.jpg 244w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-768x945.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-1249x1536.jpg 1249w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-1665x2048.jpg 1665w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Oakley-e1689218178606-878x1080.jpg 878w" sizes="(max-width: 381px) 100vw, 381px" /></p>
  432. <p>The first thing I did is build Oakley a pet emergency kit that goes with her anywhere she goes. It has items such as extra food, water, collapsible bowls, a leash, waterless doggy shampoo, towels, bags and of course, a bone! If I go out of town and she has to go stay with someone, the bag goes where she goes. It gives me peace of mind knowing that in an emergency, I can grab that bag and have everything I would need to take care of Oakley.</p>
  433. <p>Second, I include her in my evacuation drills. When I’m practicing my <a href="https://www.redcross.org/sound-the-alarm.html#prepare-your-family">2-Minute Home Fire Escape Plan</a>, I make sure to include Oakley. We practice me calling her from the house and her meeting me at our meeting spot. If only I could train my cats to do the same!</p>
  434. <p>Third, I pay attention to where Oakley and the cats hide when they’re scared. During thunderstorms or fireworks, I pay attention to where Oakley and the cats go in the house to feel comfortable. It’s hard to think about, but I know that if there was a house fire, I would have to focus on getting myself out safely. Once I’m out safely at my meeting spot and calling Oakley doesn’t work. I can tell the firefighters where she goes when she’s scared and they will try to help her. I hope we’re never in that situation, that’s why we practice our 2-Minute Home Fire Escape Plan together, but I want to be prepared.</p>
  435. <p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-23231 " src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52494202165_887a5579cc_k-e1689217522324-1024x834.jpg" alt="" width="523" height="426" srcset="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52494202165_887a5579cc_k-e1689217522324-1024x834.jpg 1024w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52494202165_887a5579cc_k-e1689217522324-300x244.jpg 300w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52494202165_887a5579cc_k-e1689217522324-768x625.jpg 768w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52494202165_887a5579cc_k-e1689217522324-1327x1080.jpg 1327w, http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/52494202165_887a5579cc_k-e1689217522324.jpg 1495w" sizes="(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px" /></p>
  436. <p>In an emergency, your pets will be even more dependent on you for their safety and well-being. Your family’s disaster plans must include your furry family members too. Today and every day, I encourage you to learn what to do to keep your beloved pets safe! Find information on pet preparedness <a href="https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/pet-preparedness-month-include-your-pets-in-emergency-plans.html"><strong>here.</strong></a></p>
  437. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23229" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23229" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/12/pup-paredness-is-a-family-effort/">Pup-paredness is a Family Effort</a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  438. ]]></content:encoded>
  442. </item>
  443. <item>
  444. <title>10 Reasons Why You Should Download the Red Cross First Aid App </title>
  445. <link>http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/06/10-reasons-why-you-should-download-the-red-cross-first-aid-app/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=10-reasons-why-you-should-download-the-red-cross-first-aid-app</link>
  447. <dc:creator><![CDATA[American Red Cross]]></dc:creator>
  448. <pubDate>Thu, 06 Jul 2023 14:30:47 +0000</pubDate>
  449. <category><![CDATA[Health & Safety]]></category>
  450. <category><![CDATA[american red cross]]></category>
  451. <category><![CDATA[first aid]]></category>
  452. <category><![CDATA[first aid app]]></category>
  453. <category><![CDATA[First Aid Safety]]></category>
  454. <category><![CDATA[First aid skills]]></category>
  455. <category><![CDATA[red cross]]></category>
  456. <category><![CDATA[Red Cross app]]></category>
  457. <guid isPermaLink="false">https://redcrosschat.org/?p=23220</guid>
  458.  
  459. <description><![CDATA[<p>If your friend got a minor cut or suddenly collapsed, would you know what to do? Emergencies can strike when you least expect them and having the right information and ...</p>
  460. <p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/06/10-reasons-why-you-should-download-the-red-cross-first-aid-app/">10 Reasons Why You Should Download the Red Cross First Aid App </a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  461. ]]></description>
  462. <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><center><div style="width: 640px;" class="wp-video"><!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('video');</script><![endif]-->
  463. <video class="wp-video-shortcode" id="video-23220-1" width="640" height="640" loop="1" preload="metadata" controls="controls"><source type="video/mp4" src="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NHQ_Download-the-RC-First-Aid-App_2.mp4?_=1" /><a href="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NHQ_Download-the-RC-First-Aid-App_2.mp4">https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NHQ_Download-the-RC-First-Aid-App_2.mp4</a></video></div></p>
  464. <p></center>If your friend got a minor cut or suddenly collapsed, would you know what to do? Emergencies can strike when you least expect them and having the right information and resources at your fingertips can make all the difference. This is where the Red Cross First Aid app comes in!</p>
  465. <p>This powerful tool offers a wealth of knowledge, features and benefits that can empower you and any of your friends to handle emergencies responsibly and effectively.</p>
  466. <p>If you haven’t downloaded the First Aid app yet and are still wondering whether it’s worth the small investment of storage space on your phone, here are 10 reasons why you should download it today:</p>
  467. <ol start="1">
  468. <li><strong>It’s easy to use and provides step-by-step instructions</strong> on how to respond and treat everyday first aid scenarios like insect bites.</li>
  469. </ol>
  470. <ol start="2">
  471. <li><strong>Phone service or internet connectivity isn’t required.</strong> You can still access essential first aid information and resources without it.</li>
  472. </ol>
  473. <ol start="3">
  474. <li><strong>You can call 911 and get professional help</strong> in the app with just one click of a button.</li>
  475. </ol>
  476. <ol start="4">
  477. <li><strong>Locate nearby hospitals</strong> in seconds during an emergency by enabling your location permissions.</li>
  478. </ol>
  479. <ol start="5">
  480. <li><strong>Be the first </strong>of your friends to download the app and know how to help them if they experience an emergency. Because being a lifesaving hero is cool!</li>
  481. </ol>
  482. <ol start="6">
  483. <li><strong>Find specific topics, keywords and conditions</strong> instantly through the Siri/Bixby-enabled search bar.</li>
  484. </ol>
  485. <ol start="7">
  486. <li><strong>Read inspiring stories of real-life heroes</strong> who used their knowledge and skills to save or sustain someone’s life.</li>
  487. </ol>
  488. <ol start="8">
  489. <li><strong>Regularly refresh your skills</strong> with interactive games, quizzes and through a new Metronome feature that allows you to practice the proper pacing for CPR compressions (100-120 beats per minute). You can learn more about this new feature in the Cardiac Arrest section (Step #4)!<strong> </strong></li>
  490. </ol>
  491. <ol start="9">
  492. <li>La aplicación móvil está disponible en ingles y español. Translation: <strong>The content in the app is available in English and Spanish.</strong><strong> </strong></li>
  493. </ol>
  494. <ol start="10">
  495. <li><strong>Lastly, It’s FREE!</strong> Yes, this means you can access lifesaving information and resources without breaking the bank and only investing in a little bit of storage space on your phone.</li>
  496. </ol>
  497. <h3><strong><span style="color: #004b79;">What’s Next?!</span> </strong></h3>
  498. <p><a href="https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html">Tap here to download</a> the First Aid app or visit your App Store and search ‘Red Cross First Aid.’ Accidents and emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time. But now, you have access to expert advice and resources to help a family member, neighbor or bystander, if necessary, right in the palm of your hand.</p>
  499. <p>&nbsp;</p>
  500. <div class="remoji_bar"><div class="remoji_add_container" data-remoji-id="23220" data-remoji-type="post"><div class="remoji_add_icon"></div></div><div class="remoji_error_bar" data-remoji-id="23220" data-remoji-type="post" style="display: none;">Error happened.</div></div><p>The post <a href="http://redcrosschat.org/2023/07/06/10-reasons-why-you-should-download-the-red-cross-first-aid-app/">10 Reasons Why You Should Download the Red Cross First Aid App </a> appeared first on <a href="http://redcrosschat.org">red cross chat</a>.</p>
  501. ]]></content:encoded>
  504. <enclosure url="https://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NHQ_Download-the-RC-First-Aid-App_2.mp4" length="14795151" type="video/mp4" />
  505.  
  506. </item>
  507. </channel>
  508. </rss>
  509.  

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