HONOLULU — With March proclaimed as Red Cross Month, the Hawai‘i Red Cross thanks supporters and volunteers whose efforts enable the Red Cross to respond to disasters locally and around the world. “The Red Cross works tirelessly to be there
HONOLULU — With March proclaimed as Red Cross Month, the Hawai‘i Red Cross thanks supporters and volunteers whose efforts enable the Red Cross to respond to disasters locally and around the world.
“The Red Cross works tirelessly to be there with help and hope when people need it most-and we are grateful for the public support that enables us to continue our work – here at home and abroad,” said Coralie Chun Matayoshi, Chief Executive Officer. “Our community and our nation depend on the Red Cross in times of need, and the Red Cross depends on the support of the American people to achieve its mission.”
Matayoshi said Red Cross Month is a great time for people to get involved with the Red Cross, such as taking a CPR, first aid or other Red Cross course; giving a financial gift that can really save the day when the next disaster strikes, or becoming a volunteer.”
The Hawai‘i Red Cross responds to disasters statewide every three-to-four days, helping communities to recover from disasters by providing immediate emergency needs, including food, clothing, shelter, mental health counseling. The Red Cross also helps prepare local communities for emergencies; teaches lifesaving skills to over 33,000 people; and provides emergency communications and referrals to over 2,000 military members and their families in times of crisis.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation in 1943, recognizing the American Red Cross as a true reflection of the humanitarian and volunteer spirit and calling on Americans to “rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross.” Every president thereafter has recognized the Red Cross Month.
The Hawai‘i Red Cross has a number of activities planned for Red Cross Month:
Awesome Online Auction, March 1-20.
Shop ‘til you drop. Go to www.hawaiiredcross.org to bid on a 2011 Toyota Prius, Hyundai Sonata, or Audi A4. Zoom around in a Maserati or Harley Davidson motorcycles for a weekend. How about a trip to anywhere Hawaiian Airlines flies: Australia, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Tahiti? There are trips to the West Coast, Las Vegas, and neighbor islands; and hotel stays in London, Dublin, Beijing, and San Francisco. See who can lose the most weight with a personal trainer for a group of 8. Spa, golf, restaurants, shopping, theater, you name it, we got it. Great deals for a great cause.
The Red Cross will host on the island of O‘ahu, on March 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Citizens CPR Kick-Off and Emergency Preparedness Fair at Pearlridge Shopping Center, Uptown Center Court.
Learn life-saving skills and prepare for an emergency. Citizens CPR is a national Red Cross initiative to encourage compression-only CPR to enhance the capacity of bystanders to respond when someone suddenly collapses.
Other Red Cross chapters throughout the country will be holding similar events at the request of Senator Gabrielle Gifford’s family, who is grateful for the measures taken after being shot last month. Arrive early to receive a free, 128-page Family Caregiving reference guide and DVD (a $25 value), which teaches skills for caring for elderly or chronically ill loved ones. This give-away is made possible by a Harry & Jeanette Weinberg grant to the Lions Club.
Other activities will include blood pressure screenings, disaster preparedness presentations and product demonstrations, as well as appearances by costumed characters Scrubby Bear and Disaster Dog.
Kentucky Fried Chicken Give $1, Get $1 off coupon, March 1-31.
Donate $1 to the Hawai‘i Red Cross and receive $1 off coupon towards your next purchase, throughout March.
Hats Off Event, April 1-3.
Off duty fire fighters, military service members and other volunteers on April 2 will be collecting donations in hats at various locations statewide. Volunteers will also be at all Walmart stores statewide April 1-3.
Go to www.hawaiiredcross.org to donate or volunteer. Call 739-8109 for credit card donations or send check to the American Red Cross, Hawai‘i State Chapter, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816.
All Red Cross disaster assistance is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency but depends on public contributions to help others. Your gift supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross in your community, across the country and around the world.
