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March is American Red Cross Month |
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Saturday, 03 March 2007 |
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 By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff
Every March the American Red Cross is recognized for its essential humanitarian role in communities throughout the U.S.
Locally the Elk-Cameron Counties Chapter is kicking off the month’s events with their annual “Fork It Over Celebrity Waiter Dinner.” The dinner will be held tomorrow evening beginning at 6 p.m. at the Royal Inn in Ridgway.
For 2007, the organization has inaugurated a national platform recognizing and thanking all supporters that help fulfill the mission to the community, with the theme “A Celebration of America’s Hometown Heroes.”
The Elk-Cameron Counties Chapter has relied on the everyday heroes who donate time, blood, or money, particularly those who help coordinate blood drives, teach First Aid and CPR classes, volunteer during disasters and act as liaison between the Red Cross and U.S. military.
Locally four heroes are being recognized for their volunteer efforts, each representing a specific line of service offered by the Red Cross.
These individuals include Emporium’s Glady Miller, a dedicated blood donor; Anthony Santiso, for health and safety as a CPR, First Aid, Lifeguarding and Water Safety skills instructor; Jim Gerg, a disaster hero that helped victims of Hurricane Katrina and Gary Schreiber, the Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) liaison for the area.
With more than 700 chapters across the country, volunteers and staff tirelessly serve their community. By giving of their time and talent, these individuals help prevent and ease human suffering among friends, neighbors and evens strangers.
During the 2005-06 fiscal year the local Red Cross chapter responded to 14 fires and four additional disasters; 26 cases utilizing the Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES); conducted 269 courses with a total enrollment of 1,591 people in First Aid and CPR, Aquatics and Water Safety, as well as other programs and hosted 58 blood drives collecting 2,323 units - which accounted for 97 percent of their goal.
As a very active participant in the communities it serves, the Elk-Cameron Counties Chapter participated in numerous educational outreach programs.
The “Together We Prepare” program consisted of eight presentations with 81 attendees. The focus of the program is to encourage community members to design a Family Disaster Plan for use in and to prepare themselves for emergencies.
The program involves creating a plan, building a Disaster Supply Kit, getting trained in First Aid and CPR classes among others, volunteering with their local chapter and donate blood whenever possible.
The “Masters of Disaster Natural Hazards” program is presented to students in grades K-8. Topics included general preparedness, tornadoes and fire prevention and safety. In addition on a local level, over 5,000 planning brochures were distributed to communities.
According to Mary Kucenski, executive director of the local chapter, the organization’s recent efforts are focused on in-school programs. By distributing emergency preparedness brochures Kucenski said she hopes families create disaster response plans.
“Something as simple as water, a plastic tarp and duct tape, can make a big difference during an emergency,” Kucenski said.
Currently the local chapter is working with St. Leo’s Elementary in conjunction with the Ridgway School District as well as Elk County Catholic High School. They hope to cross the program over to St. Marys Area schools at one point in the near future.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 April 2007 )
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