The Tri-County Red Cross is happy to announce April's Volunteer of the Month, to the late Anita D. Kish (9/10/1915 - 4/1/2008).

Kish was one of the historical Red Cross Gray Ladies, named for the volunteer uniforms they wore during WWII. She lived in Fanwood and volunteered for over 20 years at various organizations in the Central NJ area. We were proud to call Mrs. Kish a friend as she helped out at blood drives and shared stories about the wonderful things the Red Cross did in her local community.

"Mrs. Kish's accomplishments are an inspiration to us all," said Nathan Rudy, CEO of the Tri-County Red Cross chapter.  "We are honored to have had her as a volunteer."

Her award was accepted by lifelong friend, Lieselotte Schmiede of Fanwood.

If you would like to volunteer for the Tri-County Red Cross please contact our Director of Youth and Volunteer Services at 908-756-6414 or email webbv@usa.redcross.org.

The Central Jersey Red Cross Region, which the Tri-County Red Cross belongs to, is hiring a major gifts officer for its five chapters.  The job ad is below.

The American Red Cross of Central NJ is seeking a Major Gifts Officer for the Central NJ Region. Responsibilities include identifying major gifts, funding resources and other development opportunities that will benefit the American Red Cross.  Will work with Chapter Executive Directors and their boards to identify and develop contacts with donors, private foundations, other organizations and individuals to solicit financial and in-kind support.  Bachelors degree in business or related field with a minimum of 4 years fundraising/major gifts experience required. Donor database management experience preferred.  Proficiency in Microsoft Office required.  Must have vehicle and a valid drivers license within the specific chapter jurisdiction.  25-50% travel required.  Applications will be accepted until May 30, 2008.  Send resume and cover letter to MGO Search, Attn Human Resources 707 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ 08540 or email to reiffb@njredcross.org

Molly Lenz, a Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team Volunteer, arrived as the Hillside firefighters were finishing up extinguishing the fire that left three families homeless. She was told the victims had been taken to police headquarters after their lives took a turn nobody expected or wanted. 

The fire started from an electrical short in an exhaust fan in the delicatessen a police officer told her and motioned to two women sitting on a bench inside police headquarters. Tiffany Townsend, Mahalia Jackson and their cat shared apartment number four on Maple Avenue in Hillside when the fire ripped through forcing everyone to evacuate.  

"They were still in shock, not knowing where they were going to sleep, how they were going to eat and what they would be using for clothing. I answered their questions and told them the Red Cross would provide lodging at a local hotel and financial assistance to purchase clothing and food," Lenz said.  

Lenz, who started volunteering with the Red Cross three years ago after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. With friends living in New Orleans, it thoroughly frustrated her because it seemed not enough was being done to help people in the affected areas.  So she contacted the Tri-County Red Cross, attended training, but was not able to assist in the Southern states due to work obligations.  Instead Lenz has been helping local people as a Disaster Assistance Team member.  Since July over 100 families in this area have received help during disasters, mostly house fires.   

"Molly is a great example of a concerned resident wishing to make difference during a major disaster and transitioning her energy to local victims," said Nathan Rudy, CEO of the Tri-County Red Cross.  "Local victims like Ms. Townsend and Ms. Jackson are beginning to put their life back on 'track' because our Disaster Action Team Volunteers were there when they needed it the most."   

To join Lenz as a volunteer for the Tri-County Red Cross, call 908-756-6414 or visit www.tricountyredcross.org.  

Molly Lenz, Disaster Action Team Member for Tri-County Red Cross

The Tri-County Red Cross

&

Wine Country

Of North Plainfield

 

Present

THE SPRING TASTING '08

 

Not just another tasting

Not just another walk-around

Not just another free sales floor tasting

Not just another dull Saturday

 

The Tri-County Red Cross and Wine Country of North Plainfield announced today The Spring Tasting '08, a special wine, beer and spirits tasting on the afternoon of Saturday, May 31, 2008. 

Anyone of legal drinking age is invited to join us for a FREE, casual and informative walk-around tasting on Saturday May 31, at Wine Country of North Plainfield's location on Route 22 West.  Visitors can come at any time during the five hour tasting to learn more about specialty drinks, and can stay for a few minutes or a few hours.

More than 50 different wineries, breweries and distilleries will be represented with in excess of 180 items open for your educational tasting experience. And all for free.  Proceeds from the sales of these items and optional contributions will be donated to the Tri-County Red Cross.

Wine Country of North Plainfield will be open to the public for general retail sales during the tasting.

Mark your calendar:

 

When:                           Saturday May 31, 2008

Time:                            1:00PM - 6:00PM

Where:                           Wine Country of North Plainfield

                                        967 Route 22W, North Plainfield

Tables - Sales Floor:                   26

Tables - Cellar Room:                    8

Items Open per Table:                    6

 

Some of the items open for sampling will include:

Represented Wineries: Edmeades, Bonterra, Sonoma Cutrer, Matanzas Creek Winery, Sebastiani, Santa Carolina, Atalon, Calina, Cambria, Stonestreet, Yangarra, Hartford Court, High Note, Moon Mountain, California Cellars, Dyer, Coyote Crest, Clos La Chance, Bliss, Rodney Strong, Cottage Road, St Helena, Amazing Grace, White Cottage, Art School, Adagio, Talia, Di Majo Norante Falanghina, Argiolas Isolda del Sole Bianco, Falesco Porticinia, Poggiotondo Il Taglio, Vista, Little Mateo, Florentino, Satiraino Barolo, Torre Mastio Amarone, Porta Erbe Amarone, Passo Primo Ripasso, Kim Crawford, Bleadsale Franks Potts, Passing Clouds, Lights Out, Aliwen, El Canto,  and more

Distilleries: Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniels Black, Jack Daniels Single Barrel, Gentleman Jack, Herradurra Tequila, Grey Goose (all flavors), Bacardi Mojito, 5 Highly Rated single maly scotches from the Prestige Beverage Collection, Boru Vodka, Pallini Lemoncello and more

Breweries: TBA

For information on the tasting, please contact Julie at Wine Country of North Plainfield email at: julie@winecountrynorthplainfield.com or by phone at 908-791-3773 x14. 

Last night at a gala ceremony at NJ PAC in Newark, Clara Barton was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.  Ms. Barton is not only the founder of the American Red Cross, but in Bordentown also founded New Jersey's first public school.

"We're thrilled to have our founder as one of the first 15 people inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame," said Nathan Rudy, CEO of the Tri-County Red Cross in Central New Jersey.  "To have her in the first class with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Buzz Aldrin and Yogi Berra is a huge thrill for us."

The new Red Cross Racing campaign is well underway.  Please remember to cheer for our Red Cross blood donor and Celebrity Cabinet member Greg Biffle, who is driving the No. 16 Ford Fusion today at Talladega.  The race begins at 1:00 p.m. EDT on FOX.

Don't forget to register at redcrossracing.com, and let's all go racing!

Every year in Tri-County Red Cross communities more than 150 families need our assistance after a residential fire.  These families stand on the sidewalk watching their homes and possessions go up in smoke, not knowing where they would sleep that night or how they would clothe their children.  What isn't destroyed by the fire itself is usually made unusable by the battle to arrest the flames. 

Whether it is the single family on Craig Place in North Plainfield who needed our assistance last week, or the 12 families who spent New Year's Eve outside in the cold instead of at a party, these families feel like they have nowhere to turn.

The parents worry about the basics of finding a place for their children to sleep that night, of caring for their families when all their clothing and food is destroyed.   Tasks that were simple the night before become daunting, the ability to focus and concentrate is practically impossible.  They are being pulled in different directions all at once - the emergency responders asking questions about the start of the fire, their kids crying about losing their favorite toy, neighbors inquiring to what they are going to do - it's overwhelming.

This is where Tri-County Red Cross volunteers step in; arriving during the disaster to offer the fundamental necessities at a time when looking ahead to tomorrow seems impossible.

Our volunteers provide the support and strength for these victims to begin to address the daunting task of life after a disaster.  From the moment they arrive at the disaster scene, they address the immediate needs of the victims - food, clothing and shelter.  The parents' relief shows as they are taken through the process.  They will have a place to stay; they will be able to provide food and clothing for their family and can now focus on the details of putting their life back together.

Volunteers are special people; they offer their time and support to neighbors in need. They come from different backgrounds, jobs, education levels, wealth, countries and age groups.  Our volunteers have different reasons for donating their time and focus on different areas of volunteer opportunities, but all receive their training free of cost from the Red Cross.

Regardless of the background, volunteering is a small investment that creates lasting results for anyone desiring to make a difference.  To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit our page on Volunteers or call Victor Webb at 908-756-6414.

 

May 4 - 10, 2008

The American Red Cross is working with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) along with 35 other organizations and large corporations in an alliance to focus increased attention on reducing workplace injury and illness through promotion of NAOSH week.

A special toolkit has been developed that any organization can use and adapt (see sections beginning on page 13).

Potential promotional activities include:

• Focusing on your chapter's workplace safety. Ensure employees and volunteers are trained to respond to emergencies and your worksites are hazard free.

• Locating your local chapter of ASSE. Contact one or more of the officers and ask about working with them to support NAOSH Week and, in the process, discuss other ways in which your chapter can work with ASSE to promote workplace safety. Involvement with your local chapter of ASSE (including attending meetings and exhibiting at their local or state level conferences) can be a good way to develop relationships that may lead to new customers.

• Encouraging your current workplace customers to take advantage of this special occupational safety week. Direct them to the online toolkit and to make statements to their employees about the importance of safety on the job.

• Contacting alliance organizations (see page 7 of the toolkit). If you have any of these employers or members of the listed associations in your chapter, contact them now about conducting Red Cross classes during that week as a part of their commitment. Also, ask their safety officer about other joint efforts- such as special lunch hour safety presentations, or promoting Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED classes to all interested employees - not just those who are on the emergency response team.

Four families in Elizabeth, Union and North Plainfield were the victims of fires last week.  15 people were affected including seven children.  The Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team was on the scene for all three disasters to provide support and relief to the families.

Red Cross volunteers make up the Disaster Action Team volunteers give their time at all hours of the day to go to disaster scenes, offering help and support to the victims during their time of need.  The Red Cross provides special training at no cost to the volunteers. 

Training includes first aid and CPR, handling the chaos of a disaster, managing a shelter operation, driving and operating the Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle, maintaining organization of files, and providing a sympathetic shoulder to lean on for disaster victims and more.   

If you are interested in becoming a part of this exciting team of volunteers or would like to learn more about the volunteer opportunities at the Tri-County Red Cross, you can contact our Director of Volunteer Services, Victor Webb at 908-756-6414 or email. 

Volunteering with the Tri-County Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) offers an exciting opportunity to go inside the lines during a disaster and work directly with the victims in their most desperate of times.  DAT volunteers are there on the scene providing immediate relief to the victims to satisfy their primary needs: food, clothing and shelter.

They work closely with the men and women who put their lives on the line rescuing these victims.  Firefighters, police and EMT's all receive Red Cross DAT support including canteen services, victim relief and blood services. 

Local disasters happen.  Fires, building collapses, floods are all common to our area and can happen at any time. Below is a map of the local disasters our DAT volunteers have responded to since the beginning of 2008.

Joining our Disaster Action Team is fast and easy. Call Victor Webb at 908-756-6414 and make difference to your neighbors in need and change a life today.    

For more information visit: http://tricountyredcross.org/volunteer/2008/03/become-a-disaster-response-vol-1.html