March is American Red Cross Month and the American Red Cross on Kauai asks for your aloha and kokua for us to continue to help our community.
The American Red Cross volunteers respond to everyday disasters such as house fires and floods and helping those affected with their immediate emergency needs. From Kekaha to Haena, your Red Cross is on call 24/7, 365 days a year. When flooding threatens to close the Hanalei bridge, Red Cross volunteers are there, ready to shelter stranded residents and tourists.
In addition to food, clothing and shelter, the Red Cross provides invaluable crisis counseling through trained volunteer mental health professionals. All disaster response and training of our disaster volunteers is free of charge.
The Red Cross continually recruits, trains and prepares volunteers so they can be deployed at a moment’s notice. It is not “if” but “when” a major disaster in Hawaii will occur and when it does, we must be able to stand on our own until outside reinforcements arrive. The Red Cross is also dedicated to helping families and communities on Kauai build their capacity to be ready for emergencies by sharing critical disaster preparedness information.
In addition to disasters, the Red Cross provides emergency communication between deployed military service members and their families. We also teach critical lifesaving skills like first-aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, baby-sitting, pet first aid and aquatics/swimming instruction.
In order to continue to support our programs, we are asking the community’s support for the Kauai Red Cross by dining at these Kauai restaurants who are participating in our March Red Cross Restaurant Campaign. Throughout March, call to make a reservation and dine at these participating restaurants:
Makana Terrace, St. Regis Princeville Resort (Princeville, 826-2746), ask for “Table 53;” portion of proceeds donated; Rum Fire, Sheraton Kauai Resort (Poipu Beach, 742-1661), ask for “Table 53;” portion of proceeds donated Wahoo Seafood Grill & Bar (Kapaa, 822-7833), $1 donation for every tableside Caesar salad ordered Ho’okipa Café, Puakea Golf Course (Lihue, 246-4555), $1 donation for every hamburger sandwich ordered between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Please show your aloha and support of our Red Cross and helping our island ohana by having a great meal with you and your ohana, coworkers, friends and neighbors at any one of these great participating restaurants. Other restaurants are still invited to participate by calling 245-4919. The Red Cross is not a government agency and we therefore rely on the generosity and aloha from the people of Kauai to help us to provide critical humanitarian services for our island ohana.
Your donations are much needed and appreciated, especially, during these tough economic times. Visit www.redcross.org/hawaii to learn more and also make a donation. Mahalo and aloha for your support.
• Keri Russell is county director of the American Red Cross, Kauai Chapter
