It Takes a Village | Update from the field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front line

Hurricane Irene’s furry and flooding were more than enough for New Yorkers, but when Tropical Storm Lee blew through the Southern Tier of New York only nine days after Irene, dumping more than eight inches of rain, you have a recipe for disaster.

Binghamton, New York suffered the effects of the double-dip storm waters in unprecedented ways.  With the torrent came the immediate evacuation of 20,000 residents and the need for a very fast response by the American Red Cross.  Binghamton University stepped up immediately and made their Event Center available to the Red Cross, along with local and state agencies, to make ready for a flood of residents seeking safe haven. 

When 1,800 area citizens sought shelter, literally from the storm, critical partnerships with the American Red Cross, bonded together to create not only a “mass shelter” on the grounds of Binghamton University, but a temporary residence that provided safe, secure and substantial refuge for the citizens of Binghamton and the surrounding region.  The American Red Cross works hard throughout the year, throughout every state, to make sure that we have partnership agreements and relationships in place. When all of our partners work together for the humanitarian and compassionate care for all citizens, the results are a marvel and inspiration to behold.

Upon arrival to the nerve center of the mass shelter operation within the Event Center, I discovered the fruits of collaboration to be remarkable and effective.  I walked into the gigantic even center and saw scores of Red Cross volunteers busy caring for the residents with excellent care, offering hope, health services, and mental health services, hot meals, and snacks, activities for children, cots and blankets. Soon I was led into command center where the Red Cross Shelter Managers joined ranks with the University Law Enforcement Officers, local and state Law Enforcement Officials, Incident Commanders, Public Information Officers, County Health Officers, volunteer medical professionals, and members from the New York Fire Department.  The professionalism of the collaborative efforts between all agencies worked seamlessly;

I now realize first hand why the Red Cross Community Chapter Disaster Service Directors all across the country work so hard to develop lasting and growing relationships with key stakeholders in every community. It really does take a village to offer the best in care and protection of our neighbors, and the American Red Cross volunteers understand and appreciate this at every level.  The Red Cross appreciates the support and the privilege of partnership, particularly observed in Binghamton, NY, but known across the country.

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Jeff Taylor, Executive Director of East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently on the front lines of the Hurricane Irene aftermath in upstate New York. For daily updates from the field, follow Jeff on Facebook at Red Cross East Georgia and on Twitter @RedCrossEastGA or @taylorjeff7.

Thank you to our volunteers and donors--you are the lifeline of our organization.

American Red Cross Spontaneous Volunteers | Update from the field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front line

Disaster Strikes without warning, but when it does, at a moment’s notice throughout the world, American Red Cross volunteers are ready to respond. Red Cross volunteers are trained, re-trained and always certified; this is what they sign up for and are eager to do – volunteer!

Matthew, a spontaneous volunteer, from Vestal, New York.

But what do you do when a major disaster strikes and “Spontaneous Volunteers” start showing up wanting to do something to help?  You quickly discover their interests and match them up with the needs that exist.  This is precisely what I found when I met a Vestal, New York family, serving hot meals in the Event Center of Binghamton University, right alongside of our deployed Red Cross volunteers. A mom, 15-year-old son, Matthew, an aunt and their family friends were all pitching in to serve dinner for our 500 shelter residents.  As I listened to their stories of volunteerism within the community, I quickly learned that, “this is what we do when you grow up in this community; you step in and serve because you love your town, you love the people and you never know when you may be on the receiving end of kindness.”

Spontaneous volunteers are incredible, and they are a vital supplement to the regular Red Cross volunteer team.  Matthew shared with us that all of his friends have been helping out in the community, cleaning out flooded homes, raking yards and helping with their parents in the Red Cross shelters.  Matthew also shared that the work of volunteerism can get in the way of regular fun, and he was glad.  He said, “Today I called around to my friends to see if they wanted to play a little pick-up football, but we couldn’t because everyone was too busy serving others. It was really cool to see that happening.”

A short distance from this family we found two students attending Binghamton University busy at work in their new Spontaneous Volunteer roles; mopping the floors in the gigantic Event Center.  Alec and Chelsea shared, “We saw what had happened along the Susquehanna River, the neighborhoods that were devastated, and the growing population at the Event Center, and we imagined ourselves in their position and knew that we had to help support the Red Cross and bring hope to the shelter residents.”

Many of the trained and certified American Red Cross volunteers began their tenure with the Red Cross as Spontaneous Volunteers.  It is important to know that American Red Cross community chapters across the country always welcome new volunteers and the contagious spirit of volunteerism.

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Update from the Field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front lines of Hurricane Irene Disaster Relief


Jeff Taylor, Executive Director of East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently on the front lines of the Hurricane Irene aftermath in upstate New York. For daily updates from the field, follow Jeff on Facebook at Red Cross East Georgia and on Twitter @RedCrossEastGA or @taylorjeff7.

Thank you to our volunteers and donors--you are the lifeline of our organization.

Students Serve Binghamton Shelter | Update from the Field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front line

Students Serve Binghamton Shelter

September 12, 2011

The Binghamton University Event Center is not only filled with 500 residents this morning, it is also filled with student volunteers.  The students and young adults have come out in great quantity from the ranks of the American Red Cross volunteer base, from the ranks of the AmeriCorps volunteer team, but also from the Binghamton University student body. In fact, so many volunteers from the student body have come to serve that rotating shifts have been established well into the week.  The students are eager to serve and are grateful to join the efforts of the American Red Cross.

Ross Youmans, and Environmental Science graduate from this past May shared his motivation for serving: “This is my community, the flood hit here and I wanted to help.” Serena Karsou, Editor of the University paper, “Pipedream,” stated that, “the student volunteers have been training for disaster relief and are comfortable with the tensions related to disaster. Our students are great when it comes to talking with the shelter residents, keeping them occupied, and offering hope.”  Freshman, Henry Meyer, had a very practical outlook about serving in the shelter.  “I (Henry) came with my freshman friends to volunteer and we all felt that serving was a better idea than watching TV and having a few days off from school….I like to help people.”

The University student volunteers and student Red Cross volunteers are joined by the AmeriCorps volunteers who have been long-time partners with the American Red Cross.  These students take 10 months off from school, or post-graduate time, to develop leadership skills, to serve in disaster relief operations, and to prepare for a lifetime of service and leadership.  Patrick Skovira has just signed up for a second term of service with AmeriCorps and will be a Team leader during his second deployment. Patrick stated, when asked about why he serves, “For the experience of being able to help others and for the experience I will gain for other fields of work.  I love the opportunity through AmeriCorps and love the partnership with the Red Cross.”

One other group of student volunteers on the shelter floor are those serving through the Harper Ferry Student Volunteer Ambulance Service. After 6 months of training, 120 hours of class work and a New York exam, these students are on the front line of first responders for the student body living on campus and off-campus; and right now, for our residents in the Event Center.

What does all of this mean?  At times of devastation and despair, we should all be encouraged that our youth, (those currently in college and those who have recently graduated), are ready to serve, and the residents of the shelter love not only their service, but their youthful energy and inspiration.  As one shelter resident observed, “They are our future, and they are our present; they are our countries hope and we ought to be proud”

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Update from the Field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front lines of Hurricane Irene Disaster Relief


Jeff Taylor, Executive Director of East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently on the front lines of the Hurricane Irene aftermath in upstate New York. For daily updates from the field, follow Jeff on Facebook at Red Cross East Georgia and on Twitter @RedCrossEastGA or @taylorjeff7.

Thank you to our volunteers and donors--you are the lifeline of our organization.

Forklifts lift Spirits for American Red Cross Volunteers | Update from the Field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front lines

Forklifts lift Spirits for American Red Cross Volunteers

September 8, 2011

On a day of historic rain fall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee, American Red Cross volunteers, Civil Air Patrol volunteers, and Americorps volunteers, all rejoiced when Gary Farrigan, Territory Sales manager of Tri-Lift, Inc., arrived to the Northeast New York American Red Cross warehouse with 3 forklifts. This donation from Tri-Lift not only makes lifting of heavy bulk items for the disaster relief operation easier and more efficient, but they also lifted the spirits of our volunteers who have been managing all deliveries, supplies and shipments by hand.

Ken Warkentin has been a Red Cross volunteer since Hurricane Katrina and he is serving this operation as the warehouse manager. When the donation of the forklifts became a reality, Warkentin stated, “the generous donation from Tri-Lift takes chaos out of chaos when managing Bulk Distribution for a major Disaster Relief Operation.”  The arrival, on the day after 8 new inches of rain to the greater Albany area created massive flooding throughout the region, “boosts morale for our volunteers.” Warkentin continued by stating, “the donation of the warehouse, and now the donation of 3 forklifts, will allow our volunteers to see the fruits of their labor, which in turn raises their spirits and motivates them to extend their service which now exceeds 10 days of relentless work.”

Gary Farrigan could not have been more pleased and honored to make the forklifts a reality. Farrigan shared, “We (Tri-Lift, Inc.) have customers in all of the devastated areas and we wanted to donate something that would really help.”  When Farrigan presented the keys to the volunteers in the warehouse, cheers and applause erupted.  On a dreary day of floods, Tri-Lift, Inc. became a hero to the American Red Cross. As one Americorps volunteer shared, “I had no idea that 3 forklifts could lift more than bulk items; we are lifted in spirit and we are thankful.”

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Update from the Field: East Georgia Red Cross on the front lines of Hurricane Irene Disaster Relief


Jeff Taylor, Executive Director of East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross is currently on the front lines of the Hurricane Irene aftermath in upstate New York. For daily updates from the field, follow Jeff on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/redcrossega and on Twitter @RedCrossEastGA or @taylorjeff7.

Thank you to our volunteers and donors--you are the lifeline of our organization.

Hurricane Irene Update

An American Red Cross shelter at Nassau Community College in Long Island, New York

on August 27, 2011

Thousands of people from North Carolina to New England have turned to the American Red Cross for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, as flooding, widespread power outages, and wind damage have devastated communities. Since the night before the storm, the Red Cross has operated or supported nearly 500 shelters and provided more than 52,000 overnight stays.

A Red Cross volunteer comforts a Lost Valley, Maryland resident who has survived five floods, with Hurricane Irene being one of the worst, on August 30, 2011.

More than a thousand trained disaster workers, including 76 from Georgia, are engaged in relief operations in a dozen coastal states. Every Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) east of the Rocky Mountains – more than 260 vehicles – has been mobilized to support recovery efforts. Georgia’s entire fleet of ERVs has been deployed, and the Atlanta-based Emergency Communications Response Vehicle, capable of powering essential equipment for a relief operation under disaster conditions, is being utilized in North Carolina.

Ten kitchens, capable of serving about 140,000 hot meals each day, are operating or being set up in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and New York. Arrangements have also been made to have approximately 1.3 million meals available in North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and New York through Red Cross partners, and thousands of relief items such as clean-up kits, rakes, ice chests, and tarps have been shipped affected areas.

While many states are still assessing the damage, the Red Cross expects to be helping people in hard-hit areas for the next several weeks.

You can help provide Red Cross relief for the families impacted by Hurricane Irene by making a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief today. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling, and other emergency assistance. The Red Cross is not a government agency, yet we are guided by a Congressional Charter to respond without hesitation to disasters across the country and around the world. To carry our mission, the Red Cross relies on public generosity.

Each year, the Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters nationwide each year and spends on average $450 million on disaster readiness and relief. The costs of our comprehensive response to Hurricane Irene have not been fully realized but are anticipated to be in the tens of millions.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Call To Donate: the local chapter at 706-353-1645 and talk to Jeff Taylor, Executive Director
Text A Donation: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 by phone
Mail A Check: Mail a check to
                          American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter
                          490 Pulaski Street
                          Athens, GA 30601
Donate Online: American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter Website

National Volunteer Week 2011

National Volunteer Week was April 10-16, 2011, and the American Red Cross East Georgia Chapter celebrated at its monthly volunteer meeting! Chapter volunteers were surprised by a 10-foot long banner featuring each of their names (we have more than 70 superstar volunteers!), a cake, and tabletop decorations--all in a superstar theme.

This great group of volunteers gives generously to their own communities throughout the 14 counties the East Georgia Chapter serves, as well as other communities around the state and Southeast, that are affected by disasters.

To find out more about how these awesome people are serving the East Georgia Chapter, check out our new Twitter account or visit us on Facebook!

Volunteers Laura Gutsmann and BJ Brown were deployed to the Disaster Relief Operation in North Carolina with Red Cross an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV). The ERV is used to conduct mobile feeding throughout the areas affected by the tornado and to distribute bulk items like shovels, tarps, rakes, etc.