American Red Cross

American Red Cross Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter Month in Review July **Breaking News** On Thursday, July 30, 9 families were forced to evacuate the Waveland Manor Apartment complex due to a Meth Lab explosion that contaminated their apartments. Our Chapter was able to open an emergency shelter in partnership with the Lutheran Episcopalian Services of South Mississippi. In addition to shelter, we provided medical assistance, counseling and a clothing allowance for each of the victims. The team in action! Emergency Services It may appear that the parking lot at the chapter is getting smaller, thanks to a grant that we recently received from Wal-Mart. This grant has allowed us to purchase items that strengthen our capability to respond to the many types of disasters. One of those items is an an emergency response trailer that is ready to roll to set up a shelter in a short amount. The grant has also made it possible for the Chapter to offer advanced and basic disaster training to both new and seasoned volunteers and employees. Armed Forces Communications The Chapter assisted with 27 Armed Forces emergency cases. Caroline Thompson gave a pre-deployment briefing for 1,000 reserve and active duty SeaBees. She also gave a caregivers seminar and disaster prep presentations for nearly 150 Keesler airmen and their families. Fire Response Assistance The Chapter assisted 6 families (27 individuals) and provided $3,874 in financial aid. Utilities Assistance The Chapter assisted 66 families and provided $6,636 in financial aid. Volunteers and Trainings Classes: 9 Participants: 110 Outreach: 1654 Public Affairs Training Class: Judy Butts, Faith Bontrager, Paige Roberts, Doug Walker, And Genia Clay-Crane New Volunteers: Shelly Stoll-Smith, Rachel and Chelsea Mickel , Patrick Ervin, Kingston Gaines, Mimi Davis, Joe Farruggio, Lillie Lowell, Emily Gaddis of Gulfport; Nicole Thibodeaux, Cameron Bialy of Vancleve; Dawn Ross-Hemming of Ocean Springs; Irma Martin of Gautier; Russell Higuera, Nangvorlee Vang, Karen Reed of Biloxi; Clare Smith of Long Beach; Tina Fontenot of Bay St. Louis; Arrian White of Waveland WELCOME NEW VOLUNTEERS! Health & Safety CPR/First Aid- 77 Classes with 481 participants Aquatics- 53 Classes with 390 participants Caregiving/Admin – 1 class with 7 participants Total- 131 Classes with 878 participants We have completed CPR, First Aid and Blood Bourne Pathogens training for all of the area Lowes stores. We provided community service training for 12 Katrina Relief Group caseworkers, and 24 workers at the MS State Extension Service. Gifts of the Month Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Michael Wren for donating $2,000! A special thank you to Hancock Bank, for their generous New Account Campaign, which raised over $2,500 for our Chapter, and over $6,000 for our region! We appreciate all of our donors! Also, thank you to the Young Lawyers Association of Harrison County for hosting a skeet shoot benefit that raised nearly $700! United We Prepare In collaboration with United Way of South MS, we have created “United We Prepare.” Please visit our website and download the free brochure to find out how you can better prepare your family for a disaster. www.unitedweprepare.com Rainy Day Campaign Just last year we had two major hurricanes, Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, strike our community. It is estimated that 2,500 South Mississippians sought refuge in Red Cross shelters in the days surrounding the hurricanes' landfall. At the height of the response, our local chapter had over 60 people from all over the country, in addition to local volunteers, assisting with shelter management, damage assessment, case management and the distribution of provisions such as food, water and clean up kits. There were a total of 25 emergency response vehicles sent to this area to provide this assistance to individuals in damaged neighborhoods. While we provide the means for recovery, our work is only possible because of caring supporters like you. Thank you for supporting the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross. www.redcross-msgc.org/donate.html Community Outreach July 1st, 2nd, 3rd: Stars and Stripes Appreciation Celebration at the Harrison County Fair Grounds in Gulfport. Mary Ann Wells, Ron Crosby, Glenda Marshall, Melissa Dearman, Alice Franzen and Carol Daspit, Kenny Washington, Rosemary Pursell, Ira and Ruth Johnson. Outreach: 10 July 2nd: Disaster Preparedness Presentation for the Junior Auxiliary at the First United Methodist Church in Picayune; Lorena Diaz. Outreach: 13 July 4th: Second Annual Freedom Run at Edgewater Mall in Biloxi. Dave Fournell, Caroline Thompson, Pat Gorell, Bob and Cathy Beebe, Mary Ann Wells, Bret Urbanitch, Carol and Bradley Daspit, Ira Johnson, Ana McKitrick, Steve and Karen Ray, Faith Bontrager, Lorena Diaz, Bill Brent, Russell Higuera and Rosemary Pursell, Marty Patrick, Jae Billiot, Helen Cook, Harold Boudreaux and Robert Daniels. Outreach: 250 July 7th: Disaster Preparedness Presentation for the Senior Citizens Center in Picayune; Lorena Diaz. Outreach: 23 July 18th: Retrofit Family Fun Day at the MLK Park in Bay St Louis; Yolande Bradley and Melissa Dearman. Outreach: 102 July 18th: Rayne-bow of Blessings at Friendship Park in Picayune; Rodrick Shank, Earline Parker and Lorena Diaz. Outreach: 48 July 14th: HH Club Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Library in Kiln; Melissa Dearman. Outreach: 50 July 16th: Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Senior Caregiving Seminar at Donal Snyder in Biloxi; Caroline Thompson. Outreach: 100 July 21st: ECD My Hope My Home Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Powerhouse of Deliverance Church in Bay St Louis; Melissa Dearman and Kenny Washington. Outreach: 25 July 23rd: ECD Hope My Home My Coast Disaster Preparedness Presentation, Hancock Bank Building in Gulfport; Monica Owens and Caroline Thompson. Outreach: 15 July 24th: Red Hat Society Disaster Preparedness Presentation in Picayune; Lorena Diaz. Outreach: 11 July 25th: Pre-deployment Fair Main Exchange CB Base in Gulfport; Clare Smith and Caroline Thompson. Outreach: 600 July 26th and 27th: Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Imperial Palace in Biloxi for Military and Families; Caroline Thompson and Kenny Washington. Outreach: 300 July 26th and 27th: Disaster Preparedness Presentation Keesler Youth Center in Biloxi; Caroline Thompson. Outreach: 9 July 28th: Dee’s Variety Community Outreach in Waveland; Melissa Dearman. Outreach: 12 Hurricane Recovery Program During the month of July the Hurricane Recovery Program was granted an extension until January 2011. The program will have somewhat of a different look as it moves forward. We have submitted a proposal to our National Red Cross office and we are waiting for their response so that we can determine the next step with the program. HRP continues to work very hard outreaching to our communities, conducting disaster preparedness presentations and utilizing Family Disaster Plans (FDPs) with each of our clients. The response to this effort has been overwhelmingly positive. We are continuing to make contact with people on our waiting list (from all three counties) and to accept people on our waiting list for case management assistance. Some of these people have had their needs met or do not need further assistance, but many are still in need of assistance to move forward in their recovery. -Kenney Washington, HRP Case Supervisor International News On August 12th, the Geneva Conventions will turn 60 – an important milestone for the treaties, which place limits on how war is waged and form the cornerstone of international humanitarian law (IHL). The Conventions are the most important component of international humanitarian law, or IHL, as it is commonly known – the body of rules that protect civilians and people who are no longer fighting, including wounded and sick military personnel and prisoners of war. Their purpose is not to stop war but rather to limit the barbarity of armed conflict. The ICRC has been closely linked to the Geneva Conventions from the start. The founder of the ICRC, Henry Dunant, also had the idea for the First Geneva Convention, "for the amelioration of the condition of the wounded in armies in the field," which was adopted in 1864. Since Dunant's time, the ICRC has always tried to compare the Geneva Conventions, and IHL as a whole, to the reality of armed conflict as we experience it on the ground. From the very beginning, we have been part of a dynamic process which ensures that IHL is adapted to ongoing changes in warfare. August at a Glance 2009 Heroes Campaign: Our Heroes Campaign is right around the corner! We have many exciting events in store! We are currently recruiting participants for this year’s campaign. Please contact Raemona to find out more. New Volunteer Opportunity: The Keesler Air Force Base Hospital is seeking volunteer support to assist military patients and help with the hospital’s daily operations. Anyone is eligible, but you must have a base access pass. Please contact Usa Jones, 896-7488, for more information. Upcoming Health & Safety Training Classes Date Day Class 8/14/2009 8/18/2009 8/20/2009 8/22/2009 8/24/2009 8/29/2009 Friday Tuesday Thursday Saturday Monday Saturday Challenge- FA/CPR Renewal Challenge- FA/CPR Renewal CPR Pro First Aid/CPR 1-Day Challenge- FA/CPR Renewal First Aid/CPR 1-Day Time 2:00pm4:00pm 9:00am11:00am 8:00am5:00pm 8:00am5:00pm 1:00pm3:00pm 8:00am5:00pm Location Red Cross Chapter 2782 Fernwood Biloxi, MS 39535 Red Cross Chapter 2782 Fernwood Biloxi, MS 39535 Red Cross Chapter 2782 Fernwood Biloxi, MS Red Cross Chapter 2782 Fernwood Biloxi, MS 39535 Red Cross Chapter 2782 Fernwood Biloxi, MS 39535 Hancock Medical Center-Education Building Hwy 90 Bay St Louis, MS 8/29/2009 Saturday Babysitter Training (Course fee 9:00amdue at the time of registration) 3:00pm Red Cross Chapter 2782 Fernwood Biloxi, MS 39535 Please call 228-896-4511 to pre-register. Upcoming Disaster Training Classes 5:30pm8:30pm 5:30pm8:30pm 5:30pm8:30pm 5:30pm8:30pm 5:30pm8:30pm 5:30pm8:30pm First Baptist Church 203 South Main St Poplarville 8/10/2009 Monday Fulfilling Our Mission 8/12/2009 Wednesday Shelter Operations Shelter Operations Simulation Logistics Overview 2782 Fernwood Rd Biloxi Ms 8/13/2009 Thursday 2782 Fernwood Rd. Biloxi 8/18/2009 Tuesday 2782 Fernwood Rd. Biloxi 8/19/2009 Wednesday Logistics Simulation 2782 Fernwood Rd. Biloxi 8/20/2009 Thursday Fulfilling Our Mission Ms Power Building Dunbar and Hwy 90 Bay St Louis 8/24/2009 Monday Shelter Operations 5:30pm8:30pm 5:30pm9:30pm 5:30pm9:30pm First Baptist Church 203 South Main Street Poplarville 8/26/2009 Wednesday Disaster Frontline Supervisor Disaster Frontline Supervisor Simulation 2782 Fernwood Rd. Biloxi 8/27/2009 Thursday 2782 Fernwood Rd. Biloxi Please call 228-896-4511 to register. Upcoming Blood Drives Tues. Aug. 11 Hancock Medical Center Routine Blood Drive 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. On the American Red Cross Bloodmobile 149 Drinkwater Blvd. in Bay St. Louis Hancock Medical Center will begin hosting a blood drive On the 2nd Tuesday of every month for the convenience of Hancock County blood donors. Wed. Aug. 12 Walgreens – Biloxi 1:00 – 6:00 p.m. Pass Road and Popps Ferry Road in Biloxi On the American Red Cross Bloodmobile Sat. Aug. 15 North Bay Rotary Community Blood Drive At Cedar Lake United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 12332 Cedar Lake Road in North Biloxi Tues. Aug. 18 Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union 10:00 – 3:00 p.m. On the American Red Cross Bloodmobile 12364 Hwy 49 in Orange Grove Tues. Aug. 18 Mississippi State Office Building 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2nd floor conference room of the Bolton Building 1141 Bayview Avenue in Biloxi Sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and Mississippi State Tax Commission Tues. Aug. 26 Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport “Luau for Life” Community Blood Drive 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. In the Terminal and on the American Red Cross Bloodmobile Airport Road in Gulfport Tues. Aug. 26 1st United Methodist Church of Gautier Routine Blood Drive 12:00 – 6:00 p.m. In the Fellowship Hall 2717 Hwy 90 in Gautier across from Singing River Mall Sat. Aug. 29 4th Annual Katrina Memorial Blood Drive 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. At Edgewater Mall near the Rock Wall 2600 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi Mon. Aug. 31 Edgewater Mall Routine Blood Drive 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. Near the Rock Wall Edgewater Mall 2600 Beach Blvd. in Biloxi