Community Cares Displaying items by tag: american red cross
Mike Cowles to Join the Heart of Tennessee Chapter Staff
Murfreesboro, TN - The Heart of Tennessee Chapter is pleased to welcome Mike Cowles as the new Chapter Executive Officer, to help serve residents in Rutherford, Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Marshall, Lincoln, and Moore Counties. Cowles comes to the Red Cross with over 11 years of proven experience with the Boy Scouts of America. Some of his past achievements include success in fundraising, and volunteer recruitment and management. These skills will be paramount in his new position with the Red Cross
A graduate of Austin Peay State University, Cowles will replace former CEO, Greg King following his recent promotion to Regional Director of Chapter Operations for the Tennessee Volunteer Region.
“We are looking forward to working with Mike Cowles as he leads the Heart of Tennessee Chapter in the future and helps to continue to build the organization and further the mission of the American Red Cross,” said Greg King, Regional Director of Chapter Operations.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
All Proceeds Will Benefit Local Disaster Victims
The American Red Cross Mash Bash event is being held this year at the Jack Daniels Distillery in Lynchburg, TN on Saturday, May 19th from 6-9 p.m. The event is a casual affair with country flair where locals can come and kick back and enjoy live country music, bar-b-que, beverages and a relaxed atmosphere while supporting a worthy cause.
Red Cross volunteers will sell tickets for $50 per person. Ticket cost includes food, beverages and fun. Company sponsorships range from $250 - $2500 and include event tickets. All proceeds collected through ticket sales and company sponsorships will go to help the local Red Cross Chapter to help victims of local disasters, such as fires, floods and tornadoes.
“We are very excited about the Mash Bash this year and would like to invite the entire community to come out to celebrate and show your support for the Red Cross,” said Yvonne Stewart who serves on the Heart of Tennessee Chapter Board of Directors as well as the 2012 Mash Bash Planning Committee.
The Red Cross is NOT a government agency and depends on generous gifts from the community to respond to disasters around the clock and around the block. This fundraiser will help your local Red Cross serve your neighbors in need in Middle Tennessee every day!
The event will be held at Jack Daniels Distillery rain or shine.
To become a 2012 event sponsor, to purchase tickets or for more information contact Beth Ferguson at 615.893.4272 ext. 106 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Shelters open in 11 states to help people in the path of the storms
Red Cross volunteers are canvassing areas in Jackson and Overton Counties this morning, working to assess the damage after violent storms swept across the state yesterday. The Red Cross continues to work closely with local emergency officials to ensure that all emergency needs are being met. Volunteers from the Tennessee Volunteer Region of the American Red Cross are also being deployed to the areas in East Tennessee today in order to assist with the devastation in several communities there.
The American Red Cross has launched a large relief operation across 11 states to help people affected by yesterday’s devastating tornado outbreak in the South and Midwest. Weather experts reported as many as 95 confirmed tornadoes touched down, destroying communities from the Great Lakes to the Southeast.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by these severe storms this week,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Disaster Services. “Our top priorities right now are making sure people have a safe place to stay, a warm meal and a shoulder to lean on as they begin to clean-up their neighborhoods. The Red Cross is also working closely with our government and community partners to make sure everyone gets the help they need.”
Friday night, the Red Cross opened or supported 22 shelters in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Across the affected states, trained Red Cross disaster workers are mobilizing to begin feeding operations and distribution of relief supplies. Red Cross health services and mental health workers also will be out in neighborhoods help people cope with what they’ve seen and experienced. And damage assessment teams will also help the Red Cross and our partners discover the full scope of the damage.
How to Help:
The Red Cross is able to provide immediate assistance anywhere disaster strikes because of donations of financial support of the Disaster Relief Fund.
Call: #1-800-RED-CROSS
Click: www.redcross.org
Text: "REDCROSS" to 90999 to Make a Donation – Customers of participating wireless carriers can make a $10 donation to support Disaster Relief by texting “REDCROSS” to 90999. Donations will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid account. Message & Data rates may apply. Full terms and privacy policy can be found at redcross.org/m.
Mail: Financial contributions can be mailed to the American Red Cross at 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville TN, 37203.
People affected can let loved ones know they are safe by registering on the secure Red Cross Safe and Well website, where they can also update their Facebook and Twitter status. If you don’t have computer access, you can also register by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Loved ones outside the disaster area can use Safe and Well to find information about loved ones in the affected areas by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address. Smart phone users can visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
As people begin to deal with the aftermath of the tornadoes, the Red Cross reminds people they should return to their neighborhood only when officials say it is safe to do so. They should also:
- Stay out of damaged buildings and immediately report any fallen power lines or broken gas lines to the utility companies.
- Use flashlights, not candles when examining buildings. If someone smells gas or hears a hissing noise, they should open a window, get everyone out of the building immediately and call the gas company or fire department.
More tornado safety information is available on Preparedness Section of the Red Cross website.
During March, the American Red Cross is asking everyone to help people in need by supporting the lifesaving services it provides.
“Please remember those who need our help and support the Red Cross by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, taking a class, or giving blood,” said Board Chair, Jan Beard. “We want to thank everyone for their generosity, which has enabled us help people here at home, across the United States, and around the world.”
March is Red Cross Month, first proclaimed in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.
The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world; collects and distributes more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than 9 million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year.
Here in the Middle Tennessee area, the Heart of Tennessee Chapter responded to 96 single family fires, assisted 175 military families and trained 4,659 people in lifesaving skills. In addition, people from this area donated 8,000 units of blood.
“Red Cross Month is a great time for people to support our mission,” Beard said. “Their kindness will enable us to continue our work, both here at home and across the globe.”
The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping the people the Red Cross services.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The local Red Cross has been very busy responding to three house fires over the past few days. Volunteers aided a family of three with emergency lodging after a fire in Shelbyville on Saturday. Red Cross Disaster Action Team Captain Gene Williams was on the scene to provide assistance to the family affected by this fire.
Tuesday, Red Cross volunteers responded to a fire in Auburntown. One family of eight was given direct financial assistance for food, clothing and shelter, along with referrals to other various community services. Disaster Action Team Captain James Goodman was able to assist the family.
Red Cross volunteers also responded to a fire in Murfreesboro on Tuesday morning and provided mass care to fire fighters on the scene.
“Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers are the most dedicated humanitarians there are,” said Brian Toll, Emergency Services Director for the Heart of Tennessee Chapter. “It is only because of their energy, their dedication, and their efforts that we are able to provide service and support to first responders and families who have been affected by disasters.”
The American Red Cross is not a government agency and all Red Cross disaster assistance is free thanks to the generosity of local donors who wish to support their neighbors in need. To make a donation to help support the Red Cross in their mission to aid those affected by disaster you can mail a check to:
501 Memorial Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
embarked for “local disaster relief” efforts.
Your Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross is committed to meeting the humanitarian needs of the people in your area, be it in disaster preparedness, disaster relief, first aid or CPR training, or collecting life-saving blood.
Murfreesboro, TN - The American Red Cross is proud to announce that Greg King, the Chief Executive Officer of the Heart of Tennessee Chapter, based in Murfreesboro, has been promoted to the position of Regional Director of Chapter Operations for the Volunteer Region. During King’s six year tenure as the CEO, significant changes transpired in the chapter including; tripling the territory it serves, significant financial growth and stability, increased preparedness levels, a state-of-the-art facility and the building and training of a volunteer base second to none.
King led the chapter through several significant disasters; sheltering Hurricane Gustav Evacuees in 2008, the Good Friday Tornado in 2009 and the May Floods in 2010. He also led the 2011 Capital Campaign that enabled the Red Cross to purchase and renovate the former Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce building on Memorial Blvd which significantly increased community visibility. The facility boasts a new blood collection center as well as a Disaster Operations Center that are both state-of-the-art and unequaled in Tennessee.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank Greg King for his dedication and service. Greg’s efforts have produced solid progress in the Red Cross mission of making our community safer and healthier and we wish him all the best in his new position,” said Board Chair Jan Beard.
Greg’s new responsibility as Regional Director of Chapter Operations will entail leading and training Red Cross Executives in the 62 Counties that compose the Volunteer Region. From Memphis to McMinnville, King will be charged with replicating his success in Murfreesboro.
The American Red Cross helped hundreds of thousands of people whose lives were forever changed by disasters in 2011, from tornadoes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S. to earthquakes and other disasters around the world.
Throughout the year, the American Red Cross supported the people of Japan and Haiti, while launching 137 domestic disaster relief operations in 46 states and territories to help people affected by fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes across the United States. In addition, major international disasters included the Japan earthquake and tsunami response and the continuing work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Here in the Heart of Tennessee Chapter, the Red Cross launched relief operations after tornadoes struck the Estill Springs & Huntland communities in the Spring.
“This disaster affected many people’s lives here in these rural communities,” said CEO, Greg King. “Red Cross workers from both here at home and across the country worked tirelessly to make sure people had a safe place to stay, food to eat, and help getting their lives back on track.”
In the United States, the Red Cross opened 1,019 shelters and provided more than 130,000 overnight stays. 27,622 trained disaster workers served more than 6.7 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 2.6 million relief items. Health and mental health workers provided more than 133,000 consultations and Red Cross workers opened 16,752 cases to help people get on the road to recovery.
Tornadoes, flooding and wildfires ripped across the country
State after state faced the powerful force of tornadoes in 2011. Devastating winds plowed through many neighborhoods, leaving destruction in their wake. Through it all, the Red Cross was on the scene, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and supplies to help with the clean-up. The Red Cross helped people affected by large-scale tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin in 2011.
A large part of the country – almost 20 states – was impacted by flooding in 2011. The Red Cross launched 27 relief operations related to flooding in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont.
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused the need for relief operations in more than a dozen states. Thousands of disaster workers were deployed and more than 250 Red Cross feeding trucks were sent into neighborhoods to distribute meals and clean-up supplies. In New York and New Jersey alone, the Red Cross provided almost 34,000 overnight stays in shelters and distributed more than 840,000 meals and snacks.
Wildfires consumed almost four million acres across the state of Texas, and destroyed thousands
of acres in New Mexico, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma. Again, the Red Cross stepped in to help in the fire-ravaged neighborhoods, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support for those forced to leave their homes, as well as firefighters and first responders.
Japan earthquake, tsunami changed people's lives forever
In March, a powerful earthquake and resulting tsunami struck Japan, claiming more than 15,000 lives, as well as damaging and destroying buildings, roads and nuclear power plants. Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless and lives were changed forever.
The Japanese Red Cross responded immediately, distributing food, emergency kits, blankets and supplies. Their medical teams provided health services, while other volunteers provided emotional support and social assistance. More than 80,000 volunteers assisted in operating shelters, helped with clean-up efforts and provided care for the elderly.
Through the generosity of the American people and their donations, the American Red Cross continues to support recovery efforts through the Japanese Red Cross. These include improving living conditions in evacuation centers and temporary homes by providing appliance packages for families and winterizing structures against the cold. American Red Cross funds are also supporting the Japanese Red Cross in building a temporary hospital and rebuilding a Red Cross nursing school dedicated to training specialists in disaster medical care. Additional American Red Cross support will improve the disaster response capacity of the Japanese Red Cross.
The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to assist people affected by disasters. If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
At home and across the globe, Red Cross relief efforts large part of the scene.
The American Red Cross helped hundreds of thousands of people whose lives were forever changed by disasters in 2011, from tornadoes, floods, wildfires and hurricanes in the U.S. to earthquakes and other disasters around the world.
Throughout the year, the American Red Cross supported the people of Japan and Haiti, while launching 137 domestic disaster relief operations in 46 states and territories to help people affected by fires, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes across the United States. In addition, major international disasters included the Japan earthquake and tsunami response and the continuing work following the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Here in the Heart of Tennessee Chapter, the Red Cross launched relief operations after tornadoes struck the Estill Springs & Huntland communities in the Spring.
“This disaster affected many people’s lives here in these rural communities,” said CEO, Greg King. “Red Cross workers from both here at home and across the country worked tirelessly to make sure people had a safe place to stay, food to eat, and help getting their lives back on track.”
In the United States, the Red Cross opened 1,019 shelters and provided more than 130,000 overnight stays. 27,622 trained disaster workers served more than 6.7 million meals and snacks and distributed more than 2.6 million relief items. Health and mental health workers provided more than 133,000 consultations and Red Cross workers opened 16,752 cases to help people get on the road to recovery.
Tornadoes, flooding and wildfires ripped across the country
State after state faced the powerful force of tornadoes in 2011. Devastating winds plowed through many neighborhoods, leaving destruction in their wake. Through it all, the Red Cross was on the scene, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and supplies to help with the clean-up. The Red Cross helped people affected by large-scale tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin in 2011.
A large part of the country – almost 20 states – was impacted by flooding in 2011. The Red Cross launched 27 relief operations related to flooding in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Vermont.
Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused the need for relief operations in more than a dozen states. Thousands of disaster workers were deployed and more than 250 Red Cross feeding trucks were sent into neighborhoods to distribute meals and clean-up supplies. In New York and New Jersey alone, the Red Cross provided almost 34,000 overnight stays in shelters and distributed more than 840,000 meals and snacks.
Wildfires consumed almost four million acres across the state of Texas, and destroyed thousands
of acres in New Mexico, Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma. Again, the Red Cross stepped in to help in the fire-ravaged neighborhoods, providing a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support for those forced to leave their homes, as well as firefighters and first responders.
Japan earthquake, tsunami changed people's lives forever
In March, a powerful earthquake and resulting tsunami struck Japan, claiming more than 15,000 lives, as well as damaging and destroying buildings, roads and nuclear power plants. Hundreds of thousands of people were left homeless and lives were changed forever.
The Japanese Red Cross responded immediately, distributing food, emergency kits, blankets and supplies. Their medical teams provided health services, while other volunteers provided emotional support and social assistance. More than 80,000 volunteers assisted in operating shelters, helped with clean-up efforts and provided care for the elderly.
Through the generosity of the American people and their donations, the American Red Cross continues to support recovery efforts through the Japanese Red Cross. These include improving living conditions in evacuation centers and temporary homes by providing appliance packages for families and winterizing structures against the cold. American Red Cross funds are also supporting the Japanese Red Cross in building a temporary hospital and rebuilding a Red Cross nursing school dedicated to training specialists in disaster medical care. Additional American Red Cross support will improve the disaster response capacity of the Japanese Red Cross.
The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to assist people affected by disasters. If you would like to help, please consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Murfreesboro, TN - As Americans look for more meaningful ways to give this holiday season, the American Red Cross is offering its 2011 Holiday Giving Catalog (redcross.org/gifts), which includes a variety of symbolic gifts that support its humanitarian programs
“With so many people out of work, Americans want to both give and receive things that mean something,” Development Director, Beth Ferguson, said. “The Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog provides consumers with opportunities to make a difference and give with a purpose this holiday season.”
Shoppers can choose from a variety of symbolic gift items including:
- Vaccinating an entire village
- Providing food and shelter to a disaster victim
- Purchasing phone cards and personal supplies for members of the U.S. Armed Forces:
- Bringing comfort items to platelet donors
Greeting cards are included with each tax-deductible catalog purchase to notify loved ones of the gifts you have made in their honor. You may also opt to send an e-card version. Each gift item provides support to the mission of the Red Cross and items are available to fit any budget.
According to a recent Red Cross poll, the majority of Americans plan to donate more or about the same to charity as they did last year, despite the sluggish economy. In fact, the poll found that 68 percent of Americans believe that because of the economy, it’s important to give something to charity, an increase of 10 percent over last year.
American Red Cross launches holiday fundraising campaign to help those in need
Murfreesboro, TN - The holiday season is just around the corner and this year the American Red Cross is urging people to give something that means something by donating to the Red Cross and helping those in need.
The Red Cross has launched a holiday fundraising campaign, asking everyone to visit www.redcross.org/gifts to make a donation in the name of the people on their gift list this year. Their donation can help provide food and shelter to a victim of disaster, help purchase things like phone cards and supplies for a member of the armed forces, or help supply basic necessities to families in desperate need in countries across the world.
Everyone is invited to browse through the Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog and view symbolic gifts they can “purchase” for, or in honor of, a loved one - things like infant care kits for babies in emergency shelters, comfort kits for wounded warriors, or water containers used when natural disasters disrupt a community’s water supply overseas.
“We are asking people to give a gift that means something in the spirit of the holiday season,” said Greg King, Heart of Tennessee Chapter CEO. “Their donation can help save the day when fire destroys a neighbor’s house, when a patient needs blood, when a member of the military has a family emergency back home.”
Fiscal Year 2011 was a busy year for the Red Cross. Red Cross chapters responded to more than 68,000 disasters across the country, including the launch of major relief operations for wildfires that burned hundreds of thousands of acres; tornadoes that destroyed entire towns; and flooding that left communities under water from the Dakotas to the East Coast.
Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces workers provided assistance to more than 386,000 members of the military and their families, veterans and civilians. Red Cross Blood Services distributed more than nine million blood products for patients in nearly 3,000 hospitals across the United States. The Red Cross enrolled more than 8.2 million people in health and safety training such as first aid and CPR, aquatics and water safety. As part of the global Red Cross network in more than 180 countries around the world, the American Red Cross responded to disasters and public health emergencies in more than 60 countries.
“We ask people to be generous this holiday season in their support of the Red Cross,” King said. “History has proven Americans respond when people are in need. These are difficult times for families and businesses across our nation, but we ask that people support the Red Cross and the help its programs provide during the holidays this year.”
