Disaster Drill to be held May 17, Community Members Needed!

On Saturday, May 17 from 9am-2pm the Santa Cruz County Chapter of the American Red Cross will host a disaster drill.

During the drill, emergency service volunteers will practice the skills they need during disaster:

 

– opening up a shelter for people displaced by the disaster

– preparing a meal for a large group

– providing for medical and mental health needs

– issuing client assistance

 

We need community members who are willing to act as our disaster victims. Lunch will be provided. This is a great chance to see what the American Red Cross of Santa Cruz County can do if our community is struck by a disaster. Please join us!

If you’re interested in helping or have any questions, please call us at 831-462-2881 x20.

This year, Change a Life – Starting with your own.

Looking for a New Year’s Resolution you won’t want to go back on? Join the American Red Cross family!

When we say that YOU are the American Red Cross – it is not just some goofy tag line. Did you know that the staff of the American Red Cross nationwide is 96% volunteer? Each chapter, in fact, is lead by a 100% volunteer board. The American Red Cross is a civilian organization, where ordinary people can step up and do extraordinary things!

It really is easy to become a part of the Santa Cruz County Chapter. You can do something as simple as give blood at one of our regular local drives, or you can become a Disaster Services volunteer and be deployed to local and national disasters, from single home fires to massive disasters that affect entire communities. You can help members of the military connect with their families in the States while they are overseas. You can learn how to teach CPR and First Aid or our Babysitter’s Training class and teach countless individuals how to save a life. You can help low income and elderly individuals by transporting them to their medical appointments. You can even come to our office and help us file papers. All of these things help the Santa Cruz County Chapter continue to serve our area.

Don’t wait until the next big disaster hits! The more training you have with us, the more you’ll be able to help. All of our disaster training is free – and you’ll have fun working with our team. You can choose to be deployed across the country or stay right here in the county. We will work with your schedule the best that we can.

Want to be reminded of your resolution? We can do that! Just click HERE and we will send you a reminder. Or, give our chapter a call at 831-462-2881. You can also walk in… we are located at 2960 Soquel Avenue (the frontage road to HWY1) in Santa Cruz.

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!

10 disaster relief volunteers from Santa Cruz County currently deployed to the Midwest

We currently have the following volunteers deployed to the flood relief effort in the Midwest:

Clyta Amadeo (Santa Cruz) Caseworker
Janet Packer (Aptos) Caseworker
Ralph Reyes (Scotts Valley) Caseworker
Steve Mouw (Aptos) Damage Assessment
Rick Daniel (Santa Cruz) Caseworker
Bonnie Faraola (Santa Cruz) Caseworker
David Allison (Freedom) Caseworker
Stacey Stein (Aptos) Caseworker
Beth Bloom (Aptos) Caseworker
Jon Butah (Watsonville) Shelter Worker

For a few of these volunteers, this is their first disaster relief operation with us.  We wish them luck and hope that all is going well.

 

If you would like to join our dedicated disaster relief team, please contact Patsy Hernandez, Emergency Services Officer.  She will guide you though the training necessary to help people in a time of great loss, such as the flooding in the Midwest.  You can reach her at 831-462-2881  x16   or email her at phernandez@sccredcross.org.