Watsonville Service Center Opens!

Thanks to an army of individuals and local businesses, the Watsonville Service Center is now open. We had a blast sharing our office space yesterday at our Ribbon Cutting Event. Four high school students even showed up to become volunteers for their service hours!

Pictured above are Board Chairman and Scotts Valley City Councilman Cliff Barrett, Board Member and Watsonville City Councilman Antonio Rivas, Immediate Past Board Chair Joyce Anderson, CEO Donna Jones, Emergency Response Vehicle Volunteer Driver Jerry Finney and Volunteer Clyta Amadeo.

The Watsonville Service Center would not have been possible if not for the efforts of Antonio Rivas. The Santa Cruz County Chapter extends it’s heartfelt gratitude for all of his hard work!

Thank you again to everyone who made the opening of this office possible. We are thrilled to have the improved ability to serve the city of Watsonville!

Ribbon Cutting for new Watsonville Service Center

On Wednesday, September 26 at 5:30 p.m. we will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of our brand new Watsonville Service Center located at 326 Main Street, suite 205.

Antonio Rivas, Watsonville City Councilman and Board Member for the Red Cross will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for this event. Rivas’ work was instrumental in garnering the support for the American Red Cross Watsonville Service Center.

Individuals in Santa Cruz County may visit the Watsonville Service Center for information about Disaster Preparedness, First Aid and CPR classes, and other American Red Cross Programs. It will also serve as a place for relief staff to interview individuals and families recently affected by disasters. The Santa Cruz Office at 2960 Soquel Avenue will remain the headquarters of the American Red Cross in Santa Cruz County.

After the ribbon cutting, we will be hosting an open house mixer in the new office space!

The Watsonville office will be open from Monday-Thursday, 8:30-4:30 p.m. Presently, it will be staffed by one person per day. We are actively seeking volunteer staff to work in this office! If you are interested in volunteering, please call Donna Rodoni at 831-462-2881 ext. 23 or email drodoni@sccredcross.org (bilingual individuals are highly desired).

Midwest Flood Pictures, Continued

Here are more pictures that Rick shot:

By Rick Daniels

Damage to a living room.

By Rick Daniels
Damage to a Kitchen. The part of the wall that has been cut away denotes the water level at its highest.

By Rick Daniels

Pictures from the Midwest Floods

Rick Daniels, one of our amazing Disaster Relief Volunteers, brought these pictures back with him from the flood relief effort in Rochester, Minnesota.

By Rick Daniels

Two bird feeders hang above the waterline in a Rochester, MN backyard.

By Rick Daniels

Powerful flood waters picked up this home and moved it on to nearby railroad tracks.

By Rick Daniels

A road in Rochester, MN is blocked by flood waters.