Visit the ‘Red Cross Village’ at Lehigh Valley Mall March 29

The event will be held to educate and entertain families about the importance of emergency preparedness and the many services offered by the local Red Cross.

"Disaster relief is our core and most visible service, but the Red Cross offers much more," said Executive Director John R. Hughes. "Many people don't realize the Red Cross helps armed forces personnel and their families and provides lifesaving programs and services to seniors.

"Red Cross is all about neighbors helping neighbors. Our funding comes from donations from the general public - not the government and we hope our more visible presence in the community this month sparks an interest in others to volunteer, take a lifesaving class, or make a donation to help our local chapter."

Visiting families and children are encouraged to stop by the eight information booths in "Red Cross Village" to do everything from making home fire escape plans to playing Red Cross trivia games. "Village Passports" will be given to each visitor, which will be stamped at each activity booth. Everyone who gets eight stamps will be entered into prize raffles. Radio station 100.7 WLEV will be broadcasting at the event.

Blood pressure screenings will be offered by Red Cross nurse volunteers and nursing students from St. Luke's School of Nursing, Lehigh Carbon Community College and Moravian College.

A kids' craft area will be set up and staffed by Red Cross youth volunteers.

In addition, the Lehigh Valley Mall Teen Board will host Music 4 A Mission, a free musical performance, as a platform to educate teens about the work of the local Red Cross.

"The Lehigh Valley Mall Teen Board, a group of 30 area teens that represent the mall in fashion shows, special events and community service projects, is trying to create a greater awareness among their peers as well as get them actively involved with the Red Cross, which helps thousands of residents in our own community each year," said Paula Hannam, marketing manager at the mall.

Rachel Marie, 16, a singer/songwriter who performs exclusively original folk/rock material, will take the stage at 1 p.m. More about Rachel Marie can be found on the Web at www.myspace.com/rachelmariemakesmusic.

At 2 p.m., "Falling Over Failure," hailing from Allentown and featuring DJ McAuley, Clay Stauffer, Doug Mills and Gary Kulp, will take the stage. The band has been consistently ranked through MySpace in the top 10 Pop/Punk bands in Pennsylvania, and top 100 Pop/Punk bands in the United States. More about the group can be found on the Web at www.fallingoverfailurerocks.com. At 3 p.m., the acts will perform together.

Local Red Cross youth volunteers will be there to meet with their peers to talk about their experiences as volunteers and the opportunities to support their local Red Cross.

For more information, call the Red Cross at 610-865-4400.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 690,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief to more than 23,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.