An Opinion

Your Local American Red Cross

Tuesday, 07 July 2009 15:10

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Robert Nori, the director of development for the American Red Cross in Nassau County. Bob could not have been more enthusiastic about the plans to expand operations in Nassau. Some of the activities surprised me as I had no idea of the productive efforts taken to help local residents. And the upcoming “Open House” will create even more public awareness of local activities. Here are some of those activities.

For example, in the 2008 fiscal year, the Nassau County Red Cross responded to 137 local disasters – mostly house fires. In support of those disasters some $158,000 were expended to provide relief for 686 Nassau residents.

In addition, 360 military service members were provided with emergency communications or financial help during urgent times such as the birth of a child or death of someone in the family. That support amounted to around $44,000 for Nassau residents.

One of the largest efforts related to health and safety. Over 23,000 Nassau residents completed First Aid, CPR and AED courses. In addition, 45,000 Nassau residents learned to swim or became lifeguards through their aquatic programs.

Health and Safety classes had an attendance of over 76,000 people. Expenditures in the health services area amounted to over $768,000.

Also of interest, now that we are officially in the hurricane season, is the initiative of the Red Cross to help us be prepared for the next hurricane. Fifty sites have been selected – 25 in Nassau and 25 in Suffolk – and designated as hurricane shelters. The sites selected will be able to accommodate some 60,000 Long Islanders should an emergency develop. This program was made possible because of support from Long Island’s state senators.

Now, let me turn to the “Open House” sponsored by the Nassau Red Cross. The tour will last one hour, and you can participate on Sunday, July 26 at 11 am. or 3 p.m.; or Thursday, Aug. 27 at noon or 4 p.m.

Frank Cassano, CEO of the Nassau County Red Cross, summed up what you will see. He told me, “The Nassau County Red Cross Open House, or Reveal, as we call it, allows Nassau County residents the opportunity to experience the work that the Red Cross is doing in our own county. Volunteers talk from the heart about the impact of house fires or being deployed to regional and national disasters. Staff members speak about the joy they experience when high school students are taught not only how to swim but in turn move forward to become certified lifeguards. Guests will be allowed to climb into the Emergency Response Vehicle that was stationed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and hear moving stories about how that vehicle and the volunteers assigned to it helped countless numbers of people. But, perhaps the most moving story is about how the Holocaust Tracing Program helped a Nassau County resident reunite with surviving members of her family torn apart by the Soviets at the end of World War II. The Red Cross Open House, or Reveal, is properly named for what is actually revealed are the generous hearts of Nassau County Red Cross volunteers.

The “Open House” will take place at the Red Cross offices – 195 Willis Avenue in Mineola. To make a reservation, contact Rene Brown at (516) 747-3500 extension 251 or go to their website – www.nassauredcross.org. I know you will enjoy participating.