Latest news with #RedCross'
Miami Herald
23-06-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
‘All feet on the ground': Red Cross South Florida needs volunteers for hurricane season
Susy Rodriguez remembers her first time responding to a fatality as an American Red Cross volunteer. It was October 2022 and a fire at a Homestead public housing complex ravaged one family's home, taking the life of a young child who lived there. Though shaken up, she knew what to do as part of the organization's Disaster Action Team — offer emotional and financial help to kickstart the family's recovery — and got right to it. When she returned home that evening, a call from the Red Cross' mental health team came in. 'I'm thinking to myself, 'Oh my God, I did something wrong. Did I lose it, did I cry?'' she remembered thinking. 'And they were like, 'No, how did you handle it? Do you want to talk about it? What are your feelings about it?' ... I was really impressed by that.' Rodriguez, who began volunteering with the Red Cross after a 30-year career in real estate brokering, is one of many helpers that say they've stayed faithful to the nonprofit because of its wealth of support for volunteers. With hurricane season now in full effect, the Red Cross' South Florida chapter is banking on its 'like family' approach and willingness to train anyone in anything to draw in more volunteers to serve the high-risk area. 'We really do provide a ton of training to any volunteer position that's coming on board because 90% of our workforce is volunteers,' Tiffany Gonzalez, the South Florida chapter's communications director, said. 'We want to make sure ... that they feel confident that they know what they're doing and feel empowered, because when we get hit by a disaster, it's really all feet on the ground.' Preparing for 2025 hurricane season Last year, the American Red Cross' Florida chapter positioned itself as both a first line of defense and first responder to hurricane monoliths Helene and Milton — each hitting the state's Big Bend as a Category 4 and 3 storm. The nonprofit mobilized 400 disaster workers ahead of the hurricanes' landfall, anticipating them as some of the worst natural disasters to hit the area. When storm surges and flash floods pelted neighborhoods well past the coastline, the Red Cross provided over 350,000 overnight stays in shelters, over 3.5 million meals, and stocked over 120,000 households with relief items, according to the organization's status reports. Floridians could face similar fates this summer — including six to 10 hurricanes, three to five being major storms — in what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is calling an above-average season. READ MORE: U.S. hurricane forecast: 'Everything is in place' for another above-average season Volunteers, Gonzalez says, play a large part in keeping South Florida intact during these disasters and the storm seasons that follow. 'We really want to make sure that we have the capacity to respond not only before, but after ... In getting more volunteers, we're able to prep the communities and make them more resilient, which helps in turn help them get back on their feet quicker after a storm.' The other key? Partnering with hyperlocal organizations that supplement its limited workforce and can address high-risk communities' specific needs. Started in 2022, the American Red Cross' Community Adaptation Program works with nonprofits in disaster-ridden counties across the United States — including Florida's Lee and Sarasota counties — so that they're ready to be deployed in any given Red Cross disaster response. To best resource a partner nonprofit, says Cindy Magnuson, the disaster risk reduction manager for Lee County, the Red Cross conducts a two-year audit to assess the financial and professional development help it needs. The nationwide organization drops in on city council meetings and visits local shelters, clinics and food pantries to see whether help should come in the form of grants, consultation sessions with nonprofit sector experts or new equipment. 'I think it's important to know that our relationship doesn't end after two years,' said Magnuson. 'We're not looking at making investments in organizations for them to only use the things during a disaster ... we're helping that community propel themselves into a different place long term.' The CAP program is also a draw for those interested in volunteering, but strapped for time, Magnuson explains. Most volunteers in the program are sourced from the local nonprofits' existing base to serve only the surrounding communities, eliminating the need for extensive travel that is required by other Red Cross initiatives. For those with unpredictable schedules, CAP's event-based volunteer opportunities allow you to sign up and help out when available instead of being on call throughout disaster season. The reason for lowering the barriers to volunteering isn't just to recruit more helpers, clarified Gonzalez, but to allow everyone an opportunity to give back to their community in a manner fulfilling to them. Openings are available for teams involved in food distribution, emergency response vehicles, services to the armed forces, communications, mental health support, social media, fundraising and more. There is 'literally something for everyone. Whatever your hobby is, or your passion, or you're really just interested in, there's something for everyone,' said Gonzalez. 'That's the one thing the Red Cross is amazing at.' Three years into volunteering with the Red Cross, Rodriguez is the shelter resident transition lead for its South Florida chapter, heading rehoming efforts for those who've lost their possessions and houses in disasters. Her work has taken her across the United States, from Los Angeles to Montana to North Carolina, and even abroad, assisting recovery efforts in territories like Guam and Puerto Rico. She's come face to face with poverty, destruction and hardship, and keeps up her work with the Red Cross because of 'how they take care of their volunteers' and beneficiaries. 'That's the one thing the Red Cross is amazing at. You're a human being? That's it, that's all. That's the only qualifier we need.'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Utah student earns scholarship for hosting Red Cross blood drive
KAMAS, Utah () — A South Summit High School student is being honored for hosting a blood drive and making a difference in the lives of those around her. Emily Arvizo hosted the blood drive through the Red Cross' Leaders Save Lives Program during her winter break, a time where the Red Cross sees a dip in donations. With encouragement from the club advisor over her Interact Club, Arvizo planned and facilitated the event at her high school. 'Throughout my experience, I saw how many people in my small community were interested in giving blood or had already donated before,' Emily shared. 'I also realized that the lack of nearby blood drives prevents people from donating, even though they're willing to help.' The Leaders Save Lives Program encourages students to host blood drives during critical collection periods, giving them a chance to help others, gain leadership experience, and earn scholarships. Arvizo's drive collected over 28 pints of blood and earned her a $1,000 scholarship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Today is Giving Day at the American Red Cross
Today is Giving Day at the American Red Cross. The nonprofit asks for donors to help those facing crises by contributing and assisting them in providing shelter, food, relief items, emotional support, and other assistance. On their website, you can choose a particular focus for your donation: stock an emergency response vehicle, supply a full day at an emergency shelter, provide a health or mental health worker, provide families with clean-up kits, or provide financial assistance. In downtown Atlanta, Georgia's Own Credit Union is amplifying the Red Cross' reach by featuring Giving Day on their sign that stretches across their building, 450 feet into the Atlanta skyline. The sign will be displayed until the rest of Giving Day at 11:59 p.m. tonight. Plus, your donation could go even further thanks to Ford Philanthropy, which is matching all gives, dollar for dollar, up to $200,000. Visit their website to donate. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Atlanta bagpiper killed while scuba diving; son who vanished 4 years ago found dead at home GA Law enforcement makes biggest fentanyl bust in state history, enough to kill 2.5 million people Eviction turns into major drug bust in Atlanta [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Jordan Times
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Israel announces ground operations, issues 'last warning' to Gazans
In this photo, taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, smoke rises over destroyed buildings in northern Gaza on Wednesday (AFP photo) GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Israel announced renewed ground operations in Gaza on Wednesday and issued what it called a "last warning" to residents of the Palestinian territory to return hostages and remove Hamas from conducted this week the deadliest wave of air strikes since the start of a truce in January, killing hundreds of people according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza military said it had "begun targeted ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip to expand the security perimeter and create a partial buffer between the north and south".As Israel kept up its renewed bombardment despite a chorus of calls from foreign governments to preserve the ceasefire, long lines of fleeing civilians filled the roads of Gaza on with young children fled northern Gaza for areas further south, fearing for their lives after Israel urged civilians to leave areas it described as "combat zones".Fred Oola, senior medical officer at the Red Cross' field hospital in Rafah, said the renewed strikes had shattered the relative calm of the past two months."Now, we can feel the panic in the air... and we can see the pain and devastation in the faces of those we are helping," he said in a the "residents of Gaza" -- ruled by Hamas since 2007 -- Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said in a video statement that "this is the last warning"."Take the advice of the president of the United States. Return the hostages and remove Hamas, and other options will open up for you -- including the possibility of leaving for other places in the world for those who want to."He was referring to a warning earlier this month by US President Donald Trump, who said: "To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!"Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that sparked the war, 58 are still held by Gaza militants, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. Impasse So far, Hamas has not responded militarily to the strikes, and an official from the group said it was open to talks on getting the ceasefire back on rejected, however, Israeli demands to renegotiate the three-stage deal agreed with Egyptian, Qatari and US mediators."Hamas has not closed the door on negotiations but we insist there is no need for new agreements," Taher al-Nunu told AFP, demanding Israel "begin the second phase of negotiations".Talks have stalled over how to proceed with the ceasefire, whose first phase expired in early and the United States have sought to change the terms of the deal by extending phase one -- a stance rejected by would delay the start of phase two, which was meant to establish a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza while the remaining hostages are released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners."Moving to the second phase seems to be a non-option for Israel," said Ghassan Khatib, a political analyst and former Palestinian Authority minister."They don't like the second phase because it involves ending the war without necessarily achieving their objective of ending Hamas." 'Shattering' hopes Israel and its ally the United States have portrayed Hamas's rejection of an extended phase one as a refusal to release more intense Israeli bombardment sent a stream of new casualties to the few hospitals still functioning in Gaza and triggered fears of a return to full-blown war after two months of relative calm.A UN Office for Project Services employee was killed and at least five other people were wounded when a UN building in the central city of Deir El Balah was hit, the agency health ministry in the Hamas-run territory blamed Israel, while the Israeli military denied striking the Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "shocked" by the staff member's death and called for "a full investigation", said spokesman Farhan called the incident "part of (Israel's) systematic policy of targeting civilians and aid workers, aiming to terrorise them and prevent them from fulfilling their humanitarian duty".Thousands of Israeli protesters massed in Jerusalem, accusing Netanyahu of resuming strikes on Gaza without regard for the safety of the remaining hostages."We want him to know that the most important issue is to get the hostages back," said 67-year-old Nehama Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel's raids on Gaza "are shattering the tangible hopes of so many Israelis and Palestinians of an end to suffering on all sides".European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the new strikes on Gaza "unacceptable". The war began with Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,218 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures.
Associated Press
07-03-2025
- General
- Associated Press
An AP photographer sees the plight of Palestinians in one man carrying a refrigerator through the rubble
NUR SHAMS, West Bank (AP) — Majdi Mohammed has been working as a photojournalist for The Associated Press for 19 years in the West Bank. He lives in the village of Salem, east of the city of Nablus. This what he had to say about this extraordinary photo. Why shoot this photo? The distance between Nablus and Tulkarem is approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles), but the trip is compounded by the Israeli military checkpoints that block the main roads, forcing me to take rough, unpaved dirt roads, which adds more difficulty and time to the journey. On the way, news came in that the Israeli army had decided to demolish 17 homes in the Nur Shams refugee camp for Palestinians, giving its residents only two hours to enter their homes and take their personal belongings before the detonations started. Upon arriving at the area, I parked my car away from the event, as it is common for Israeli forces to smash Palestinian cars during raids. I put on my personal safety gear — a bulletproof vest, a helmet, a gas mask, a first aid kit, and my camera — and headed toward the entrance to the camp. At the entrance, the scene was tense and violent. The Israeli soldiers fired into the air to disperse the Palestinians who were impatiently waiting to be allowed to enter their homes. Despite the Red Cross' promises of two hours for residents to collect their belongings, the Israeli forces prevented them from advancing and fired heavily to warn the people. Despite the fear and danger, I chose a moderately safe place to take pictures with my camera, ready to document every moment. How I made this photo Amid the rubble, mud and sewage, an unforgettable scene caught my attention: An elderly man, carrying a small refrigerator on his back, moved with difficulty through the destroyed alleys. He stopped every now and then to catch his breath, then continued to walk with determination. The scene was heavy in its meaning, perhaps as heavy as the refrigerator was on his shoulders. I advanced and came to stand in the middle of the street, flooded with water and mud, and waited for the right moment to take the picture. I knew that it was not just a picture, but a testimony to a larger reality, and that it was also a more human message about the reality of forced displacement, loss, but also steadfastness. The man in the photo is Tawfiq Shahada, 58. He had left his refrigerator with his neighbors a few days earlier, when his house was demolished. On this day, he took advantage of the two hours he was allowed to enter to carry it on his thin back through the ruins. The road was rough, full of debris and mud, but he insisted on carrying it and leaving the camp — as if it were the last thing left of his home. When he came up to me, I was able to do a video interview with him. He spoke in a voice heavy with sadness as he told me that everything in his house had disappeared under the rubble, all the memories he had built with his family and children, ended in a single moment. He told me that when he entered his house today, he found nothing but his wallet. Everything else had been erased by Israeli bulldozers. Why this photo works In his eyes, he was not only carrying a refrigerator, but he was carrying the memory of a house that no longer exists and a life that he tries to continue despite everything. The photo was taken at a moment when I felt that this fridge was not just a physical object that the man was carrying but a symbol of the ongoing state of displacement, of having to carry what one could and leave everything else behind. For me, this photo was not just a documentation of a moment, but a testimony to the suffering that people here live with on a daily basis. I wanted to tell the world this story, to show how carrying the simplest of household items becomes an act of resilience, of perseverance, of continuing to live.
