United Way Day of Caring Focuses on Disaster Preparedness
News Release: September 9, 2003
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
Fourteen employee volunteers from Guardian Life Insurance Company and Rodale gathered at the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley to learn about “Together We Prepare” during the 2003 United Way Day of Caring. “Together We Prepare” is a national Red Cross campaign that encourages people to prepare themselves and their community should emergencies or other disasters strike. The initiative stresses five simple action steps: make a plan, build a kit, get trained, volunteer and give blood.
“Today our friends from Guardian and Rodale have accomplished two of the steps: volunteer and build a kit,” said Director of Red Cross Volunteer Services Colleen Mooney McGee. “Our hope is they will complete all five steps and share what they’ve learned with a friend, co-worker or neighbor to help create a culture of preparedness in our community.”
“Our Day of Caring project ties in nicely with the United Way of America’s national agenda of community preparedness,” said Red Cross Executive Director John Hughes. “Red Cross is a resource that anyone can use to help keep families and communities safer.”
Employee volunteers began the day with a brief overview of Red Cross services and a tour of its facilities, followed by a one-hour “Together We Prepare” presentation by Director of
Emergency Services Cordelia Miller. The presentation outlined each of the five steps for preparedness and how to put each step into action.
Following the presentation, employees completed step 2 of the preparedness steps – build a kit -- and assembled “disaster supplies kits,” containing emergency preparedness items such as a flashlight, batteries, first aid kit, non-perishable food, water, a battery-operated radio, tools and sanitary supplies.
The kits were then donated to area shelters, most of which are United Way-funded agencies. While at each of the shelters, volunteers were given a brief overview of the operation of that agency.
“Because New Bethany Ministries provides housing for homeless families and low-income mentally disabled adults, we have a special responsibility for our residents in times of disaster,” commented Reverend William J. Kuntze, executive director of New Bethany Ministries in Bethlehem, whose agency received a kit. “We are eager to receive the Red Cross disaster supplies kit and incorporate it into our preparedness plan.”
Shelters that received kits included Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown and Easton; The Salvation Army Hospitality House; Turning Point of Lehigh Valley; New Bethany Ministries; Valley Youth House Shelter; Victory House of Lehigh Valley; Easton Area Neighborhood Centers; Safe Harbor Easton; and Third Street Alliance Shelter Program.
Last month, the local Red Cross and Girl Scouts-Great Valley Council and Minsi Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America announced its partnership in promoting “Together We Prepare.” Council-wide, the Scouting organizations will be distributing about 500,000 educational brochures in both English and Spanish to the public through its traditional food drive and nut and cookie sales in the fall and winter. In addition, age-level activities related to the five action steps have been developed as part of the Scouting learning curriculum for “Together We Prepare.”
For more information about “Together We Prepare,” other Red Cross programs and services, or volunteer opportunities, please call (610) 865-4400.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 20,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about your local Red Cross or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.
